E275 
.H67 



■ 

\ 

\ 
\ 

\ 

■;■ 

■ ' ■ ■ ■ ', 


\ 

; 

\ 

I 

I 

i 

i 

s 









#Va: 






.VA 



^ '^y^^^/" V^ 



-^•' ^^' 









^o 



^^^ 












^V' -^-^ 



A' 



<. 






.V 



V » ' " 












.^7"^ '-^0^ r-^: 



\%^r:^ 



<v 






^^•. 



-t/^o^ 



«^ 



' • • » \^ 






-A 



,v 



.0' 







~ ol^ 


. "-^Wi 


^■i?^ 


.. \^ 


o 


•i* 


t « o, (^ 


J.) % -^ 


' Dyi'^ "^ 


'002 " ^ 


M-y 























0^ 


V^' 
/, 


f. ",!* • 


% ^ 


^o 


V 



•^ 

^ 



,*^ 







o 






^<:/yj/t^ ♦'' 



^-^A,% 









v. .>>■ 










it^:- 



.c. 






■h' 



•<y 












^i" '^ 






^' V *-.i^^v^" .y "^^ ^:^^^* ,^' ^\^ '^-s^^.^ 















A 



'^ 






1'-. -ov*^ /#m- "^-0^ 



*'°- ■•'»'V .^'''-. ■-^fe^'■ ^*-' 



S o^ 



1* * 'V v> 



^^:^:.' 



V 



\^ 






'" V^ /'>' ♦ 






.0 



/• ... -='-,. ••••• .<" ... % "•■ / 



u 



^^' ^^v 



-^^0^ 

.•^o^ 



'r 



^^C^/' ^""'^ 



';t- 



c 









V^ 






'?>. 



'^ A^ /'^ ■ '- '<f>„ 



So^ 



',>^ 



W '-;^4ft&f^' ^^ 



v\- 



'oV 



rr^. 



-^..^^^ yMK^ 



& . 









M 



> 












O 



-L^ •y 1 ■ r. ., V -■^,, 






O. 



:^-6i. 



^-A 






^V^'V .^' '^^ ".5 



^•'^^^:^\,^^ 




ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 
Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D., 

■I 

A Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army. 



WITH A MEMOIR. 



Edited by William B. Weedex, formerly Captain Battery C, 

First R. I. Light Artillery, and Chief of Artillery, 

First Division, Fifth Corps, A. P. 

MEMOIR. 

Enos Hitchcock was born at Springfield, Mass., March 7th, 
in the year seventeen hundred and forty-four. If we would 
learn the defects of the system under which he was educated, 
we should study the ideal picture which he imagained and 
portrayed in after years for the training of a family.^ 

"The object of it (education) has been to teach what to 
"think, rather than, how to think. The end of education, is, 
"to unfold the latent powers of the human mind, direct them 
"to suitable objects, and strengthen them by exercise; it is 
"the art of preparing children for the duties of life." 

He graduated at Harvard College in 1767. He probably 
began preaching very soon, studying theology with the clergy- 
men whom he assisted, for we have the following certificate, 
dated Aug. 18, 1768, from the ministers of Cape Cod. 

"These may certify, y' Enos Hitchcock A. B. having by 
"public Preaching and private Conversation (Brother Green 
" interlines in a tremulous hand ' so far as we are acquainted ') 
"given us y^ Subscribers (Ministers of y^ Gospel in y^ County 
"of Barnstable) Satisfaction as to his Qualifications for y^ 
"Gospel Ministry & of his good Disposition in that way to 

1 Memoirs of the Bloomgrove Family, 2 vols., by Enos Hitchcock, 
D. D., 1790, p. 15. 



HJ- 



7 



88 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

"Serve and promote y*= Redeemers Kingdom; We recomend 
"him to y Work, Nothing Doubting (if providence spare his 
"Life) but that he will be a Blessing in the Chh." 

Signed 
Joseph Green Barnstable, Isaiah Dunster of Harwich 
Isaiah Lewis Wellfleet, Caleb Upham Truro 

Joseph Crocker Eastham. Joseph Green Jun'' Garm° 
Edward Cheever Eastham. Nathan Stone of Yarmouth : 

Evidently, he was solidly trained for his future career, as 
this certificate of progress shows. In May in 1771 he became 
the colleague of the Rev. Mr. Chipman in the Second Church 
at Beverly, Mass. 

He was dismissed and recommended from the Church at 
Truro March 21, 1771. He married Miss Achsah Jordan of 
Truro. 

We know little of his early pastorate. He must have been 
a diligent student, for m his late years he developed an elegant 
and agreeable style. He subscribed to the News Letter, as 
the receipts show. Among the items of bills for supplying 
his family, there are generous quantities of rum, sugar and 
claret, with moderate portions of coffee. There is no direct 
evidence that he yielded to the common weakness of making 
verses, but the following among his manuscript documents 
probably was of his own composition : — 

"The Sailors note for Prayers." 
" I ROBERT DOWDNEY, bound to Sea, 
Desire you all to pray for me; 
That I may have propitious Gales, 
And be preserved from all Ails : 
From sinking down in mighty Deep, 
From too much work, and little Sleep, 
From Spanish-Rogues, and all disasters 
From wicked-Men, and Peevish Masters, 
From Whip, and Cudgell, Kick, and Cuff, 
From Knocks, and Blows and — that's enough." 
"For the Royal American Magazine.'' 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 89 

The war of the Revolution began its fateful course. Mr. 
Hitchcock served during the year 1776, though there are no 
diaries for that year. The only traces of this service are in 
three certificates dated at Ticonderoga, Oct. 21, 24, 25, 1776, 
signed by colonels Ephraim Wheelock, Ruggles Woodbridge 
and Jonathan Reed. These certify to his service as chaplain 
in these several regiments from Aug 10, to Oct 25. 

When Burgoyne's expedition was mustering in Canada, 
New England was deeply moved by the impending danger, 
and by the urgent need of the country for men and the means 
of warfare, recruits swarmed to Ticonderoga and the northern 
borders; among them Chaplain Hitchcock, whom we shall 
accompany in the pages of his diary. The feeling of the 
community and the inspiration of individuals will be better 
comprehended if we cite Mr. Hitchcock's own words in 
reply to the representatives of his parish, after some expe- 
rience of campaigning and camp life. 

"The committee addressed him, as follows, "Dear Sir It 
"gives us Enfinite Satisfaction, That so Favourable an oppor- 
"tunity offers It Selfe in which we can Express our minds to 
"a Gentleman of your known candore and Inginuity with 
"whom we have Had the Honour of Converseing with=& 
"Earnestly Hope By the Blessing of almighty God that we 
"Shall Live to See Eatch other in Perfect Helth and Inioy 
"that mutial Friendship that Contributes to the Hapiness of 
"all Sosiaty." .... and as we have the 

"Honour of aquaintting you By the Desire of the Parish = 
"with what they have Done for you Relitive to your Support, 
" For Carriing on the work of The ministry amongst us 
" . . . a^ a meating of the twenty seventh of 
"Aug^t Last Held By agornment the Parish Voted that from 
"the Time you Return, To us to Preach amongst us you 
"Shall Receive after the Rate of Four hundred Pounds for 
"the Remainder of this Preasent year Sir we should Be glad 
"to hear from you the First opertunity we have Nothing New 
"to Enform you of your Family are all well and I thnke It is 
"a general Time of helth in your Parish But Time would fail 
" us to Wright what our Inclinations Leads us To — in Short 



90 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

"Sir our Harts are full and would over-flow in your Praise 
"Did we not and only Beg Leave to add our Sencere wish for 
"your Prosperity So we must Conclude and End with earnist 
" Prears for you and Subscribe our Selves you Sencere Frinds 
"The Committee" 

" Dated at the Precinct of John Low Salem and Beverly" 
" Sep' the 5"^ 1778 . . . . " 

Captain Low's rhetoric was somewhat ebullient, but he 
made it clear that the parish of Beverly respected the Rev. 
Mr. Hitchcock and respected themselves. The Chaplain re- 
plied in these words : 

Camp at Danbury Oct. 2^^ 1778 — 
Dear Sir. 

I receiv^ your very obhdging letter of Sep' 5'^' by Serg' 
Dodge ; by which I was advised of the doings of the parish 
respecting means of my subsistence with them ; it gave me 
peculiar satisfaction to find that I was not entirely forgotten, 
by a people, for whom I have cultivated a sincere affection ; 
& in whose service I am willing to spend my Life, tho I have 
stept aside, a little space, in the great emergencies of our 
bleeding country ; that, if possible, I might have some influ- 
ence with my fellow-countrymen, either by precept or exam- 
ple, to remain firm & steadfast in the Defence & support of 
their dear & Heavenborn Liberties ; on which depends the 
happiness of ages to come — of generations yet unborn. 

There was a peradventure also, that I might, by my pres- 
ence & admonitions, give some check to the dangerous growth 
of Vice among our young people ; who, I hope, will before 
long, return to dwell with the multitude of their brethren in 
civil life, & form no small part of the commonwealth, how 
unhappy must it have been for such a number of promising 
men to have lived amidst the many Temptations of an Army, 
for several years, without any public appearance or form of 
Religion t this would have rendered their return dangerous, 
lest they infect the whole flock. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. QI 

Whatever may have been the sentiments of some ; these 
weighty considerations have not been without their influence, 
in my conduct : & if the mite, I have, by my services, cast 
into the pubhc Treasury, has had a desired effect ; that con- 
sideration rewards all my toil & sufferings. 

The considerable advances, the parish has made towards my 
support, as it shews their affection for & attachment to me, so 
it affords great encouragement to me to return ; I hope, by 
leave of Providence, that happy period will ere long arrive — 
I must, for the present, beg their indulgence ; as an example 
of leaving the Army, at this critical juncture, might have a 
bad appearance & ill effect ; & is displeasing to the Gen'' un- 
less in cases of great urgency. 

The campaign is drawing to a close ; &, probably, we shall 
march eastward soon, when I can, with much more propriety 
than now, obtain a recess from the army. 

That the peace of God may keep yours, & the hearts of the 
people ; & preserve you blameless untill his coming — that we 
may all rejoice in his presence, being made happy in his 
favor — is the sincere wish & earnest prayer of — 
Sir, your & their affectionate Friend 

and Serv'. E. H 

Capt. Jn? Low 

Preaching the gospel was a more important factor in the 
life of the army then than it is in modern times. Every 
opportunity was availed of, when direct military service would 
admit, to hold regular religious services. Sometimes two 
occasions are recorded for one Sunday. 

These letters belong to a later period, but it seemed proper 
to consider them now, as their spirit pertains to the Burgoyne 
campaign. Mr. Hitchcock then served as chaplain to Patter- 
son's Brigade of Massachusetts troops. In the diary there 
appears the account of the disastrous retreat from Ticon- 
deroga. In the following list we perceive the losses of our 
chaplain and likewise an indication of the manner of living in 
camp at that time : — 



92 



RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



Lost in Retreat from Ti= 
Two Blankets — one pair of sheets — a double gown — i 
Coat, I Waistcoat — i pair Breeches — i d? overhawls — i 
hat — I pair shoes — four pair Stockins — i Bible & Psalm 
Book, & several small volumes — ^9 Sugar % ^.° Chocolate — 
y2 ^? Coffee — 1 5 Gallons best Rum — 5 d? best Brandy — 
I dozen Nutmegs — i quart Stotons Elixir — 3 Bowls — one 
looking glass — 2 Beackers — 3 wine glasses — 2 Cups & 
saucers — ^ Knifes & forks — one large Spoon & a small d? i 
pair saddle Baggs — &c 

Among the documents are many bills for supplies from the 
Quartermaster's Department of the Army and from the 
Massachusetts Board of War. The following is an example : — 



The Rev? My Hitchcock 
bought of the Board of War 

Mo 23 2 pair Shoes . 

1 pair Silk hose 

2 pair worsted d? N° 9 

5 yards wooling Cloth N° 10 

6 yards Flannel 
2 Linnen handk? . 
4 oz Silk 



Boston 


January 30 1778 




16/6 


;^ii3- 




— 


1.16.8 




6/2 


.12.4 


10 


9/9 


2. 8.9 




5/6 


1.13- 




3/4 


. 6.8 




at 9/2 


1. 16.8 




;^I0. 7.1 



Rece'' payment Thomas Ivers Cash 



We do not know the causes which led to severing the rela- 
tions with the parish at Beverly. He resigned the connection 
April 6, 1780. 

This letter from President Stiles, about three months later, 
shows that the step was taken in the regular progress of the 
clergyman's mission : — 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 93 

Yale College July 12, 1780. 
Reverend Sir 

By a Letter of 3*? Ins' M"" Baldwin informs me that you 
would willingly settle again in the Ministry, where the Provi- 
dence of God might open a Door for your Usefulness. There 
are so many vacancies in the Chhs that you must soon have 
this^ — Opportunity present you for doing good. Last week a 
gentleman from Hartfd Chh was with me in quest of a Candi- 
date, and he has engaged Ml Prudden. I shall not fail to 
recomend you, Sir, if applic=' should be made to me by a place 
I can think agreeable to you. 

If you retire from the Army, I perceive it is in contempla- 
tion that M"" Barlow^ should supply your Chaplaincy. He has 
not yet preached ; altho' I believe he will soon ascend the 
Desk. He is a young Gentlema'n of Learning Sobriety & ten 
thous^ Excellencies. His merit in Poetry & the belles Lettres 
& in the Sciences in general is great — so great that the 
World I fear will never do him justice. How he may succede 
in preaching I dont Know, but his Sensibility & Amiableness 
of Manners must certainly recomend him. 

I am Dear Sir 
Your affectionate Brother in the Gospel. 
Ezra Stiles. 

Rev M? Hitchcock 

At intervals, when on leave of absence, Mr. Hitchcock 
had preached to the First Congregational Society in Provi- 
dence, R. I. He was installed in that pastorate Oct. i, 1783. 

One diary of the parish life in the year 1784 exists — inter- 
leaved in an almanac published by Thomas. The incidents 
noted are generally of matters occurring in the parish, espe- 
cially deaths and burials, and of the petty domestic affairs 
pertaining to any family. Occasionally something interests 
us now. He dined frequently at Governor Bowen's. On the 
thirteenth of March the river was opened, after having been 
closed by the ice for two months. In April, his daughter 
Achsah died at the age of eleven years. Rev. Joseph W. 

1 Joel Barlow, 6, 1758, was chaplain in the army, &c 



94 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Willard, president of Harvard College since Dec. 19, 1781, 
visited him often, and sometimes preached for him. He must 
be the "Rev Willard" occurring often in the correspondence 
from camp, as he was settled at Beverly in 1782. When Mr. 
Hitchcock went to Newport for "General Election" he dined 
with Mr. Channing, and in Boston he dined with Governor 
Hancock May 26. He was on intimate terms with President 
Manning of Brown University, and they often preached or 
lectured for each other. The parsonage (the house on Benefit 
Street, at the head of Church Street, lately occupied by 
George Owen) was raised June 28, and it was finished and the 
family entered into possession on the last day of the year. 
An "exhibition" occurred at the College July 7. 

The Congregationalists of that day were liberal in the rite 
of baptism. On Sunday, Sept. 26, our pastor baptized dj 
immersio7i William, the son of Colonel Nightingale. Monday 
he dined with Colonel, and on Tuesday with Doctor Nightin- 
gale. It was a season of rejoicing in that well-known family 
of the tuneful name. 

From President Stiles' letter and various references in the 
diaries, we perceive a substantial intimacy and friendly inter- 
course between the families. Mrs. Stiles came to visit the 
Hitchcocks on the last day of September, and "set for home" 
Oct. 27 ; which was a fair sample of the genial hospitality 
prevailing in those fair days of Providence, unvexed by the 
locomotive whistle, and unfretted by the telephone bell. 

After Mr. Hitchcock's work in the ministry and his pa- 
triotic service in the army, nothing interested him so much as 
the cause of education — the true development of the people, 
whether in the family or in the school. He delivered a dis- 
course on education at a meeting-house on the west side of 
the Providence River Nov. 16, 1785, which was printed, and 
bears the name of Enos Hitchcock, A. M. His degree of 
D. D. was conferred by Brown University in 1788. He was 
always active in promoting free public schools. In July, 
1791, he was on a committee with President Manning, Moses 
Brown, Jabez Bowen, and many prominent citizens, to forward 
this great enterprise. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 95 

At this time he was preparing his most elaborate literary 
work, the "Domestic Memoirs of the Bloomsgrove Family." ^ 
The distinguished Doctor Benjamin Rush, one of the most 
accomplished Americans of that period, gave his counsel, as 
appears in this letter. Our copy is in the handwriting of that 
excellent historical scholar, Doctor Charles W. Parsons : — 

Philadelphia 24th April 1789 
Dear Sir 

The Rev? Mr. Rodgers * put into my hands a letter, in 
which you request my opinion respecting a work you have 
prepared for the press upon the subject of domestic education. 
I can only say that I am highly pleased to find that subject 
taken up by a gentleman of your principles & character in 
the literary world. The plan which you have chosen for your 
work will be new in this country. This perhaps may ensure 
it a more general reception, & more extensive usefulness. 

The account you have given of the work is so short, that I 
am not at liberty to approve, or disapprove of it. I shall only 
remark, that by making only two children, the objects of all 
the parental care and instruction of the two principal charac- 
ters in your book, you will be precluded from recommending 
those virtues & manners which are necessary to render family 
society between brothers & sisters useful & agreeable. — 
Should you introduce five or six children (which are most 
common in all families than of two) you may inculcate many 
excellent lessons of fraternal respect from the youngest to the 
eldest, — of protection from the eldest to the youngest, — of 

1 In a Series of Letters to a respectable Citizen of Philadelphia. Con- 
taining sentiments on a Mode of Domestic Education, suited to the 
present state of Society, Government and Manners, in the United States 
of America; and on the Dignity and Importance of the Female Charac- 
ter. Interspersed with a Variety of interesting Anecdotes. By Enos 
Hitchcock, D. D., 2 Vols., Thomas and Andrews 1790. 

The volume in possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society 
bears the inscription, " Mrs. Goddard (mother of Prof. Goddard) From 
her Friend and Hum^^. Servt The Author." 

* [ Probably Rev. William Rogers, B. U., 1769.] 



96 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

delicacy, even in childhood, between the two sexes, and of 
affection, between them all. The rights of primogeniture so 
much esteemed among the Jews, I believe are founded in 
Nature & have their uses in every family. Where the eldest 
son or daughter is honored & preferred by parents, a family is 
never without goverment, in the absence of parents from 
home, and when these parents are removed by death, there is 
a foundation laid in the habits of the younger children for a 
continuance of subordination in a family, — a circumstance 
always essential to harmony and happiness. 

In the management of my children, I have made two dis- 
coveries, i^ That it is as necessary to reward them for good, 
as it is to punish them for bad actions. Nay further — that 
rewards are of immense consequence in stimulating them to 
industry — virtue — and good manners. I was led to adopt 
this practice by contemplating the principles of action in man 
by which God governs his rational creatures. 2'7 I have dis- 
covered that all corporal corrections for children above three 
or four years old are highly improper, and that Solitude is the 
most effectual punishment that can be contrived for them. I 
have used it for many years in my family with the greatest 
success. My Eldest Son who is now near 12 years old, has 
more than once begged me to flog him in preference to con- 
fining him. The duration of the confinement, & the disagree- 
able circumstances that are connected with it, are propor- 
tioned to the faults that are committed. I have in one 
instance confined my two eldest sons in separate rooms for 
two days. The impression which this punishment has left 
upon them, I believe will never wear away, nor do I think it 
will ever require to be repeated. 

Too much cannot be said in favor of Solitude as a means 
of reformation, which sh*? be the only end of all punishment. 
Men are wicked only from not thinking. "O! that they 
would consider^' is the language of inspiration. A wheel- 
barrow — a whipping post — nay even a gibbet are all light 
punishments compared with letting a man's conscience loose 
upon him in solitude. Company, conversation, & even busi- 
ness are the opiates of the spirit of God, in the human heart. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 9/ 

For this reason a bad man should be left for some time with- 
out anything to employ his hands in his confinement. Every 
thought should recoil fully upon himself. 

If you can make any use of the hints that are contained in 
this letter, in your publication, you are welcome to them. 
They are founded in experience, as well as in nature, and if 
reduced to general practice, I am sure would be found to be 
very useful. 

With great respect I am Dear Sir your humble fellow 
labourer in the presumptions business of making the world 
wiser & better, and your sincere friend, and 

Well wisher 

Benj':' Rush 

P S : Permit me to object to the title of your book : 
'• Domestic Education, accommodated to the present State of 
Society, manners &■: in america " will be more simple, and 
striking. Your name mtist be prefixed to it. — Anonimous 
books do not succeed well in this country. 

The Revp Mr Enos Hitchcock 
at Providence, Rhode Island. 

"Sanford & Merton," so important in forming the youth of 
England, inspired by the teachings of Rousseau, was written 
and published by Thomas Day in 1783. It does not appear 
that our author had read it. He studied Rousseau and criti- 
cizes him somewhat freely, though he sympathizes with his 
general purposes in education. Lord Kames, whose " Loose 
Hints on Education" was published in 1781, was his safest 
guide. Kames' precepts, being condemned as "irreligious" 
by the Scottish Church, were welcome to a progressive Calvin- 
ist of New England, stimulated by the American Revolution. 
Hitchcock condemns Locke, cites Thompson and Gay, and 
warmly commends the course of Vice-President John Adams, 
in supporting education. The book is dedicated to Mrs. 
Washington with a very complimentary address. 

The best part of the work is the evidence it affords of the 



98 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

character of Doctor Hitchcock as a man, husband and father 
of a family. "He (the father) will never appear as an arbi- 
"trary ruler over them ; but as an affectionate and benevolent 
"patron. Influenced by the gentle spirit of Christianity, he 
"will banish from his breast all moroseness and peevishness, 
"which would embitter his own life, and render his family 
"unhappy." ^ The whole record of our author's life — meagre 
and broken as it is — indicates that this was a sincere and 
candid expression of the man's own effort in living. The 
book is not a good piece of literary art. Like so many writ- 
ings of sensible men, it just fails in its highest effect. The 
style is agreeable and often elegant. All the theories and 
attempted methods are wisely conceived. But the new educa- 
tion does not breathe and live. The puppets Osander and 
Rozella are waxy little prigs, illumined by the impossible 
virtues of adults. 

Doctor Hitchcock's relations with Brown University were 
very close and influential, as he was one of the most active 
Fellows. Sept. 9, 1785, he was on committee with the 
President and John Brown in correspondence with David 
Howell, M. C, to obtain an allowance " for rents and for 
"damages done the Edifice while occupied by the public." ^ 
In 1 79 1 he preached the sermon at the ordination of Tutor 
Flint as pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Hart- 
ford, and the discourse was published. 

In this year Hitchcock, in common with the citizens of 
Rhode Island, met a great loss in the death of his friend and 
coworker, James Manning, occurring July 29.^ He was made 
chairman of the committee with John Brown and George 
Benson to confer and condole with Mrs. Manning on the 
death of her "late worthy husband." The funeral ceremo- 
nies were held in College Hall July 30, and Doctor Hitchock 
preached the sermon. 

In this main office of his profession he was distinguished, 
being an "excellent preacher," as the records say. Among 
his printed discourses were one on National Prosperity, from 

^ Domestic Memoirs I., 27. 

2 Brown University and Manning, Guild p. 419. ^ Ibid., p. 495. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 99 

the Farmer s Friend, in 1793 ; on the death of Jonathan Gould, 
in 1793; on the dedication of meeting-house, in 1795 ; on the 
death of E. Fiske, 1799; and on the death of Washington. 
We shall annex a sermon preached at West Point, not as 
indicating the power of the preacher, but to show the method 
of the time. 

Dr. Hitchcock published a catechism for children and an 
essay upon the Lord's Supper. 

Our diarist, surviving his friend Manning twelve years, died 
Feb. 27, 1803. He bequeathed $2,500 for the support of the 
ministry in the First Congregational Society. When the 
present church was built, in 18 16, the society placed a tablet 
on the wall, embodying their sense of gratitude to their 
"faithful pastor and munificent benefactor." 

Though these scattered incidents are meagre, they suffice 
to portray a man of the Revolutionary time. He was a type of 
those Puritans, who walked with God in this world. Never 
forgetting his clerical mission or the priestly sanction, he was 
always a citizen ; trying to mould this present life in prepara- 
tion for a future, which was constant and actual to him. His 
ministry, lasting a score of years, left indelible marks. The 
parish had not been long organized when he took it in charge, 
and it became one of the most prominent and most influential 
institutions in our growing city. When the Unitarian move- 
ment occurred, it became a powerful unit in that body. When 
the Civil War struck home to the foundations of society in 
New England, the ministrations of our revolutionary chaplain 
bore direct fruit. Eighty-four men went out from the First 
Congregational Church ; fifteen of these died from wounds or 
exposure. The list is somewhat remarkable in that forty-seven 
officers, viz., two Major Generals, three Brevet Brigadier 
Generals, six Colonels, four Majors, eleven Captains, nineteen 
Lieutenants, one Chaplain, and one Surgeon were included in 
the muster. Verily, the shepherd had trained and had led his 
flock in the ways of patriotic sacrifice. When the country 
labored in the agony of those fateful years, the children's 
children of those to whom Hitchcock had ministered offered 
themselves on one common altar. 

The chaplain was larger than the soldier ; the teacher and 



100 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

minister larger than the chaplain ; and the man was largest of 
all. If we were to put into one word the impressions derived 
from these records, it would be, "fidelity to duty." He was 
faithful, and he tried to make faithful those for whom he was 
responsible. 



A DEVOUT SOLDIER 



A Sermon Preached at West Point, June 23, 1782; 
At Providence, February 2, 1783. 

There is an observation of long standing & worthy our 
particular notice. " That since the necessities of mankind re- 
quire various employments, whoever excells in his own prov- 
ince is worthy of praise. All men are not educated after the 
same manner, nor have all the same talents. Those who are 
deficient deserve our compassion & have a title to our assist- 
ance. All cannot be bred in the same place, nor to the same 
employment ; but in all places and employments there arise, 
at different times, such persons as do honor to their society, 
which may raise envy in little souls, but are admired & cher- 
ished by generous spirits." — Spef- Vol. 6, No. 432. 

When we find examples of this kind carefully handed down 
to us thro' a long succession of time, their names embalmed to 
perpetual memory in the trusty page of history for faithfully 
filling up their station, & by some qualifying virtue raised & 
established their character — when I say, we find such instances, 
it should excite in us an emulation to get possessed of the 
same — & there is no condition, among the various ranks of 
men, without an example of this kind, from the general in chief 
thro' the various grades to the soldier. 

The one I now have in view is applicable to the latter, & is 
given to us in Acts x. 7., "A devout soldier." 

Great and pompous characters usually fill us with admira- 
tion, &, at unawares, steal from us a respectful attention, even 
tho' the person was destitute of every private virtue, while 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 10 1 

those who have moved in lower orbs, but filled their little circle 
with every iisfull virtue, have passed scarcely noticed. 

Alexander, stiled the great, has long been exalted as a great 
general- — deified as the conquorer of the world, in carrying his 
conquests from Macedonia to Egypt — by invading, with un- 
provoked hostilities, cities & kingdoms, & turning peacefull 
countries into seas of blood, leaving the wretched widow & 
helpless orphan to bewail, in dismal strains, their miserable 
condition. His miletary atcheivements were great, but they 
were such as marked him as the murderer of mankind. 

And while such a character is justly doomed to everlasting 
infamy, here is one written to eternal fame. How much more 
worthy of your attention & imitation was his character, who, 
in a small sphere, used all his abilities to no other purpose than 
the faithful discharge of his duty required. This was the case 
of the soldier of the Italian band I have just mentioned, the 
honorable testimony given of him, was that he was "a devout 
soldier." 

This character can not belong to anyone who only feels some 
slight impression upon his mind of his obligation to the Deity 
— or if it breaks out into enthusiastic zeal & ends in idelness 
& neglect. 

But a full conviction of the uncreated goodness & excellence 
of the supreme Being — & of our infinite obligation to love & 
obey him — the exercises of a mind thus impressed will be 
those of profound reverence for the divine Majesty, the 
warmest gratitude for his infinite benefits, & an unrepining 
submission to his will, & a steady endeavor to do all the duties 
& offices which arise from our particular station. This all goes 
into the composition of a devout character. 

This is the only solid basis for the practice of virtue & the 
enjoyment of happiness. 

And where this principle lies as the foundation of men's ac- 
tions, those subsequent virtues never will be wanting which 
happily conspire to form and dignify the character, & that 
which has the brightest assemblage of social virtues united to 
the greatest degree of moral goodness, is most worthy of imi- 
tation. 



102 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

As filial piety is the first suitable exercise of the child to 
the parent & the only principle that can secure a uniform re- 
gard to the other members of the family, so piety or devout- 
ness to God should be the main spring of all our pursuits. We 
should consider this as the first and strongest obligation upon 
us, & make it the leading feature of our character — the others 
will fall in of course. Love and reverence to God are duties 
so just & important that no character can be complete without 
them. Tho' a person may be distinguished by many usfull & 
excellent qualities, tho' he may, in some respects, be entitled 
to great honor & respect, yet, if he is wanting in affection & 
reverence to his kind parent & benefactor, his character is es- 
sentially defective & all his boasted dignity greatly tarnished — 
the bubble of popular applause may soon burst & disappear, 
or the next turn of the wheel may plunge as deep in disgrace. 
We need not search ancient record for instances of this — they 
come within our own knowledge. 

But whoever would fix his character on an immovable foun- 
dation, must unite the love he owes to the great disposer of 
all events to the service he does for his fellowmen. When his 
usfulness proceeds from this principle it will be steady & per- 
manent, & his dignity rise on this sure ground, which will 
baffle all the assaults made upon it- — in him will be verified 
that proverb, "He that walketh uprightly walketh surely," & 
does it appear a thing unreasonable or impracticable that we 
should act on principle of piety and devotedness to God ? 
nay, can we not more easily follow the dictates of reason & 
conscience than oppose them ? & no one opposes the will of 
the Deity but opposes the information of his own mind — he 
acts contrary to the dictates of conscience — but he who obeys 
the will of the Deity only follows inlightened reason & the 
voice of conscience. 

Now if we wish to act with honor & fidelity in our stations 
amidst all the changes of life, if we desire to quit this stage 
triumphantly & leave a spotless character to speak for us when 
dead ; then we must settle down in our minds as a first prin- 
ciple, that as we are the rational offspring of God, we should 
in all our conduct have a primary regard to him, & next to his 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. IO3 

creatures. In doing this we are pursuing the road of honor, 
interest and happiness. 

Under the influence of this principle we shall ever pursue 
the line of our duty, whatever our business or employment in 
life. As we stand equally related to the Deity & are equally ac- 
countable to him for the part we cut in this life, so, when ani- 
mated by this consideration, we shall feel equally the obligation 
to discharge the duties of our own province ; for it extends 
with the same force to one as to another, & is suited to influ- 
ence in every station & condition in life, & who is governed 
most by it will be most steadily usfull, entitled to most honor 
& respect from men, best satisfied with himself & receive the 
highest approbation of him who is a "God of Knowledge." 

It was this principle that actuated Cornelius, commander of 
the Italian band. "He was a devout man, & one that feared 
God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, & 
prayed to God always." The Deity was the first object of his 
regard ; and from thence flowed benevolence to men. He 
carefully walked before the people of his commune in the fear 
of God ; not only avoided vice before them, but taught them, 
by example & probably by precept too, to regard the Deity as 
the primary object of love & reverence, & that this ought 
always to be a main spring of their actions. 

Nor was so excellent an example without its good effect 
upon the troops under his command. The sacred historian is 
very particular in mentioning one whose piety and attention 
entitled him to the distinguishing epithet of A devout soldier. 

Actuated by this principle he would of course be led to dis- 
charge every part of his duty faithfully, & in order to do this 
he must in the first instance understand his business, he must 
be acquainted with his profession, both the principles & prac- 
tice of it; otherwise he will be in danger of committing such 
errors as will expose him to shame & the public to injury. The 
art miletary, like all other arts, is to be acquired only by 
industry and attention. To be unacquainted with the duties 
of our profession, or bunglers in it, is disgraceful indeed, & no 
character reads worse than that of a bad soldier, because great 
consequences depend on his skill & expertness. 



104 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Being acquainted with his duty, he appHes dihgently to the 
discharge of it. 'Tis the part of a good soldier ever to obey 
miletary commands with cheerfulness, & execute his orders 
with great punctuality & exactness — to be patient and perse- 
vering under the hardships & difficulties of his profession. He 
will never suffer himself to be led astray by the crafty designs 
of those who attempt to promote sedition & mutiny, nor ever 
betray the important trust reposed in him by deserting his 
colours. An army should always be a band of brothers who 
have entered into a close alliance with one another as well as 
allegiance to the public, & consider that their mutual safety 
depends on their adhering strictly to the principles of the com- 
pact they entered into to each other, & the whole to the 
public. Whoever betrays his trust to the public or the confi- 
dence you have placed in him, either by desertion or mutiny, 
is your worst enemy ; he disappoints your expectation, does all 
in his power to destroy the government & strength of the 
army, & exposes you to all the ill consequences of such con- 
duct. He strikes at the very being of the army, & is virtually 
the murderer of it. Therefore your interest and safety strongly 
point out the necessity of your discovering any such execrable 
person, when known to you, that the designed injury may be 
prevented. 

But courage is another thing which goes into the composi- 
tion of a good soldier's character. All the heroes of the field 
in old time were called mighty men and valiant ; not so much 
because of their bodily force as because they were men of firm 
and resolute minds, animated by the martial fire, determined 
by the sense of duty. He will face danger with an undaunted 
firmness of mind, nor ever perfidiously desert his post, or 
basely decline the fierce encounter of the field. 

These are the leading features of a good soldier's character, 
& all these must have belonged to the devout soldier of the 
Italian band. He sought to know his duty &, knowing, did 
it with cheerfulness — just and benevolent among his fellows, 
faithful to his trust, obedient to command, vigilant in duty, & 
brave in the field. He was all this upon principle, that is, he 
believed in the Deity & was actuated by a sense of moral obli- 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I05 

gation. His love to & reverence of his Maker animated him 
in the duties of his station. 

And, pray, was this a blemish in his character, that he act 
upon this stable & uniform principle ? Did it lessen his mile- 
tary virtues because he acted upon moral principles ? or rather, 
did it not give lustre & dignity to them & fix his character 
upon a sure & permanent basis ? 

But, surely, in modern times this maxim is changed, & he 
who would be a good soldier must be a bad man — must forsake 
the ways of virtue, sink himself into intemperance, profaness 
and every vice. This is a very gloomy reflection indeed, that 
men must abandon that principle which alone can secure their 
fidelity & make them happy, in order to be good soldiers ! The 
plain English of this idea is, that a man must renounce that 
principle which would prevent his becoming a deserter, a mu- 
tineer, a murderer, or falling into intemperance, profaness & 
every species of debauchery, to become a soldier ! This would 
indeed add to the horrors of war, if to be soldiers men must 
class themselves with infernal spirits ! 

The present vicious state of our army affords a most melan- 
choly consideration ! It must appear so to every person of 
thought & reflection who considers the fatal tendency of vice 
upon society, & that when the minds of men are freed from 
the restraints of a moral nature the political safety is endan- 
gered — for surely he who can trifle in the most sportive 
manner with the Deity & disregard the very first law that is 
upon him (love and reverence to his Maker) can easily be 
brought to violate his obligations to men. 

It affords a very gloomy prospect to see so many young per- 
sons who were the hope of their parents, & might have been 
the ornaments & pillars of their country, sink into vice & sen- 
suality, lost, not only to a sense of virtue, but of common 
modesty & decency, giving themselves up to the foulest blas- 
phemies, defying the God that made them, with oaths and 
curses abusing the hand which feeds them, sporting themselves 
with the name of the everlasting God & continually invoking 
the thunderbolt of wrath upon their guilty heads ! But, you 
say, perhaps you have no meaning in all this, or that you are in 



I06 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

sport ! A pretty apology ! Will you offer this to your Maker 
when you fly to him in the hour of trouble ? will you plead it 
at the bar of his righteous judgment ? No meaning ! & so the 
vilest things become innocent because done without meaning. 
But if this was the case, how happens it that this want of 
meaning always produces that vulgar, unpolite, hacknied sound 
of profanity which does so much dishonor to the manners of 
our army .■* The tree is known by its fruit. 

As to its being in sport, men must have arrived to a most 
horrid pitch of wickedness who can trifle with the great 
Governor of the universe, his perfections & government. 

If you were governed by the principle which actuated the 
devout soldier there would be an end to all these vile practices 
which tarnish the character of an army otherwise so respect- 
able. Your social & miletary virtues ought to derive stability 
& lustre from religion. To the distinguished character of a 
patriot & a soldier it should be your highest glory to add the 
more distinguished character of a virtuous, good, man — then 
you can quit this stage in the full blaze of honor & receive a 
crown of glory infinitely higher than ever adorned the head of 
the greatest conquorer. 



DIARY, 



1777. 

April 8. Set from home.^ Very hot. Dined Newall's, reached 
Waltham. 
9. Lodged Rev^ Gushing. Set off about nine oclock ; 
dined Hows Marlboro. 

10. Lodged Baldwin's Shrewsbury — Arriv'd at Brook- 

field. 

11. Received of Capt Greenleaf 60 Dollars to be sent to 

his wife — paid him ten for my share of Tickets No. 

1 On his preliminary journey to the station at Brookfield. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. IO7 

3014 & 3015.^ — Officers set off for Ti — about Ten 
o,clock — Fair Day. 

12. Innoculated"^ about lo o.clock A. M. took mercurial 

pill in evening, pleasant 

13. Sunday. Took physick before sun rise— pr^ for Rev. 

Ward Ps. 103, 19 & 122. 6 & on — rained P. M. in 
evening very fast — took pill. 

14. Cold & windy — took pill 

15. took powders in morning. Cold and windy took pill 

in evening. 

16. Wrote to Mr. Shaw & Polley — weather moderated — 

took pill — paid Brother Moses 2£ LM. 

17. took powders — rainy — took pill 

18. took pill — 

19. took physick— went to Hospital — 

20. Sunday. Rev^ Fish pr"? at Mrs. Walker's — 

21. fair Day — 

22. Symptoms came on, very drowsy, took an emettick. 

23. very poorly — but keep about — 

24. began to break out — 

25. more pock — 

26. more still — 

27. Sunday, rainy — feel poorly — 

28. pock begin to fill up — 

29. very sore — but little rest — 

30. began to turn — Sore throat. 

May I. Soreness abates — Day of public fasting. 

2. eat boiled fowl — 

3. eat fowl harshed over with Sallet — 

4. Sunday, dined freely on boiled Chicken — 

1 This is only the beginning. The reader may be surprised as he dis- 
covers how often our examplary and devout clergyman bought Lottery 
Tickets. The custom prevailed at that time, and all classes participated 
in it freely. The states granted lotteries constantly for all sorts of 
enterprises, and the Continental Congress (Stiness, R. I. Hist. Tracts, 
3, 45) raised money for the war by this means. 

■^ This method for preventing small pox preceded Jenner's vaccination. 



I08 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



Came out of Hospital to Rev^ Ward's- 



visited at Capt. Keys'^ — rainy — 
Rev^ Marsh & others came to be innoculated. 
9. lowry, rained some 

10. lowry 

11. Sunday. Brookfield Rev? Ward's, Matt. 16, 26, Is; 

57, 21 — Rev^ Fisk came from Hospital. 

12. Pleasant Day. 

13. very cold for season — 

14. went to Worcester & returned, met with Col? Little- 

field, pleasant Day. 

15. Set from Brookfield^ 3 o,clock P. M. oated at Patter- 

son's, Ware, reached Dwight's about dusk — pleasant 
Day. 

16. Lodged at Dwight's Belcherton wrote Home by Post, 

rains, set of about ten — oated at whites 7 miles past 
ferry between 3 & 4 — dined at Lyman's Northamp- 
ton — went to Mr. Brecks & Dr Hunts — 

17. Lodged at Lyman's Northampton, set forward 6 

o,clock breakfasted at Edward 5 miles — oated at 
Pierces in Chesterfield 5 miles — dined at Agars 
Worthington 5 m — reached Daniels'^ 3 m — Show- 
ers — bad Roads — good Land. 

18. Sunday. Lodged at Daniels Worthington, pleasant 

morning — set of about 7 o, clock reached Clarkes 
about ten, 7 m. Gageboro, roads bad. Land good — 
half after two o,cIock reached Staffords 7 m, of New 
Providence, Roads begin to be better, pass*? Hoosuck 

1 In his journey to the theatre of war, our chaplain, accompanied by 
Colonel Littlefield, went through Ware and Northampton, taking a line 
between the Boston and Albany and the Hoosac Tunnel routes. He 
passed through Chesterfield and Worthington, thence near the Hoosac 
Mountain. From Williamstown he turned northward by Pownal and 
Bennington in the " York Government," now Vermont. Through Ru- 
pert and Granville he rode on to Ticonderoga, between Lakes George 
and Champlain. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. ICQ 

Mountain, fine Land — at dusk reached Jones Hoo- 
suck 7 m — fine Land, roads better- — 

19. go on, thro part of Williams Town to Pownal in y= bor- 

ders of York Gover'. , oated Tracey's, 6 miles, 10 
o,clock — Roads tolerable — Land good a pleasant 
River— dined at Cap'. Billings Benington 8 m — 

20. Lodged at Fay's Benington 2 m — oated at Galutias in 

Shaftsbury — dined at Cornfields in Allenston, 8 
miles — oated at Frenchs, Manchester 7 m — 

21. Lodged at Man ly! in Dorset 6 m — oated at Smiths 

Ruport 5 m — dined at Latherbees Powlett 5 m, oated 
at Hickbees 5 m — 

22. Lodged at Corees in Granville 5 m— throw woods 5 

m — oated at Grangers Skeene 4 m — reached Skeene 
about 5 o,clock, roads very bad, put up at Averys — 

23. Lodged at Averys, breakfasted at Cap*. Wakines — Set 

off from Skeene 10 o,clock, wind Contra, arrived at 
Ticonderoga 6 P. M. fair Day. 

24. Dined upon flowr puding & Venison Steak. 

25. Sunday. Heard Mr. Cotton A. M. Mr. Plumb dined 

with us upon roast & stewed Venison, 6 "Clock began 
Service interrupted by the floating away of y<= Bridge, 
very warm. 

26. Generals Poor^ & Patterson,'- Col°i Baldwin, Scamel,'^ 

Wilkinson & Hays dined here. Pudding, Veal &c. 

27. Rained in morning. Prayers omited — fair Day — 

1 Enoch Poor, of Andover, Mass., in the words of Washington, "had 
every claim to the esteem of his country." He was appointed colonel 
after the battle of Lexington, and brigadier-general February 21, 1777. 

2 John Patterson, of Berkshire, Mass., received the news of Lexington 
at noon. At sunrise next morning his regiment of minute-men was on 
the march to Cambridge. His commission as brigadier bears date Feb- 
ruary 21, 1777. 

^Alexander Scammell, of Mendon, Mass., Colonel Third New Hamp- 
shire. He was wounded at Freeman's farm, and much commended for 
conduct in the field. The fair-minded Gordon (II. 549) praises his cool- 
ness as well as his courage. He was mortally wounded at Yorktown. 
He was beloved for his amiable qualities. 



no RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

28. Wrote Home by a Marblehead man, very warm — 

receiv? Letter from Home 19 May — the Enemies 
fleet discovered a little below Split Rock — General 
Patterson supped with us upon fish — 

29. Very warm, some Cannon heard down y= Lake — noth- 

ing further appears — 

30. Went up to y^ Landing to see Mr. Leach — not well — 

very hot — 

31. Wrote Home by Parsons No. 2 & to Rev? Willard 

with a thirty Dollar Bill Cap*. Whitcombe^ brings up 
an account y*. y^ Enemy are gone down y^ Lake — 
very warm — 
June I. Sunday. No Service A. M. dined at the Gen- 
erals^ — Letters from General Gates inform of Col" 
Meigs'' capturing 70 men on Long Island & destroy- 
ing some Stores also y' the Troops in Canada are 
going to the Southard — Divine Service at Six 
°Clock I Chron 19, 17, very warm. 

2. Rained a little last Night, cleared of this morning 

pleasant, a cool Southerly wind — Went to the Land- 
ing P. M. Mr. Leach better — wrote Home No. 3, by 
a person going to Lynn — fair, pleasant Day — 

3. Wrote Home by the Post No. 4, the Field ofificers sent 

a memorial of their grieviences to the general Court 
— Col? Brewer^ & I wrote to the Rev? Mr. Foster — 
Showry — drank Tea at Col" Marshals* — 

4. Receiv^ of Paymaster twenty pounds — paid Col? Fran- 



1 Captain, afterward Major, Benjamin Whitcomb, of Connecticut, a 
famous partisan officer (Rogers, Hadden. pp. 4-9, 42 n., etc.), the fruits of 
whose scouting operations will frequently appear. General Gates spoke 
of him as "a most usefull officer" (MS. in N. Y. Hist. Socy. Rogers' 
MS. Notes). He was accordingly hated by the British and Tories. 

2 At Brigade Headquarters, General Patterson's, probably. 

^ Samuel Brewer, of Framingham, Mass., wounded at Bunker Hill, was 
authorized to raise a regiment for service at Ticonderoga. He was 
Colonel Twelfth Massachusetts Continental Regiment, 1777-8. 

* Thomas Marshall, of Boston, commanded the Tenth Massachusetts 
Regiment. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. Ill 

cis^ six pounds, my proportion of the Stores together 
with 2'> S": 6^ paid before ; paid Col° Littefield 
2'^ 1 8^ 5'^ Expenses on the Road paid Cap*. Porter 
30 Dollars which I borrowed to send Home — cool 
westerly wind — fair Day — a Pickeril sent us two feet 
& ^ long^— 

5. Bought q I. Venison at 9^ — Col? Hale'* dined with us 

upon fish & a Venison Stake — officers of the Brigade 
turn'^ out to exercise agreable to orders — drank Tea 
with Major Hull — Head ake — no Prayers — fair & 
pleasant. 

6. The morning opens very fine but we happened to lay in 

Bed till almost Eight "Clock — slept very sound after 
a fine Supper of Venison Stakes, this may seem 
strange, but it cured my Head ake — fair & pleasant, 
dined upon roast Venison Stuff — 

7. A Soldier in Colv Marshals Reg' set on y'' Gallows j4 

an Hour & receiv? 100 Stripes for enlisting twice & 
deserting. Col? Hays dined with us upon Venison 
Soop &c fair & pleasant — Report of y^ Capture of 
y^ Milford. 

8. Sunday. Divine Service at ^4 past ten A. M. Mr. 

Plumb pr"^ Exod : 15, 3, present Col! Marshals- 
Brewers & Francis's Regl! ; at ^ Six P. M. pr'^ my- 
self Ps : 119: 115, fair and pleasant, but something 
warm and dry — 

9. Went fishing up east Crick — News from Canada — by 

1 Ebenezer Francis, of Beverly, Mass., commanded one of the fifteen 
battalions which were assigned to Massachusetts by Congress Sept. 16, 
1776. He was a gallant officer, respected alike by friend and foe. " No 
officer so noticed for his military accomplishments and regular life as he 
was." 

■^ As our Chaplain was a fisherman himself, we must not scrutinize his 
measurements too closely. Fish stories carry their own ethics in every 
generation. 

3 Nathan Hale — not to be confounded with "the spy" of glorious 
memory — was Colonel of Second New Hampshire. He was afterward 
taken prisoner at Hubbardton, and his conduct there was much ques- 
tioned. He died in captivity. His case is fully treated by Rogers in 
appendix 15, Haddeti's Journal. 



112 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

two Frenchmen, y'. Burgoine^ arrived lo"" of May 
without Troops — y'. many of the Soldiers had died — 
the Hessians uneasy — 500 French imprisoned for 
refusing to enlist — 300 at Isle la Noix, 200 St 
Johns, a Reinforsment of 4000 expected — cloudy 
A. M. cleared of P. M. 

10. Wrote Home p! Post No. 5, & to Rev? Fisk — dined on 

Fish, fair & pleasant, purchased two tickets No^ 
57111669 & 70 jointly with Cap'. Greenleaf.^ 

11. Radishes with breakfast — fine roast Beef for diner 

glorious news of Gen' Washington's gaining a com- 
pleat Victory over the Enemy at Bound Brook'^ — no 
particulars — fair pleasant Day — something dry — 

1 John Burgoyne, Colonel Sixteenth Dragoons, Major-General in the 
army and Lieutenant-General in America, commanded the expedition 
from Canada and finally surrendered at Saratoga his splendid little army. 
A brilliant and superficial officer, popular in court circles, — having made 
a successful dash of cavalry in Portugal, — he was sent to America, where 
so many military reputations acquired in Europe have been wrecked- 
He had neither the breadth of intelligence nor the character required for 
an important campaign. By comparison with the home government, he 
succeeded in Canada and New York, in that their conduct of the cam- 
paign was worse than his management. See Rogers, Hadden's Jour- 
nal, pp. Ixxx., 387. 

2 Captain Moses Greenleaf, of Newburyport, Mass., our parson's 
partner in the lottery business, was a gallant soldier. Commissioned as 
Lieutenant early in 1775, in December he was made Captain to raise a 
company for the Continental line. This was mustered in the Eleventh 
Massachusetts, under the splendid Ebenezer Francis. The company 
suffered severely in the hottest of the battle of Hubbardston. The brave 
Greenleaf was in many hot fights during the whole revolutionary 
struggle, yet never wounded. He was (MS. in Massachusetts Historical 
Society, Greenleaf Papers, Rogers' Notes) "about six feet high, broad- 
" shouldered, erect and well-proportioned, with dark-brown hair, a high 
" and open forehead, piercing dark-hazel eyes, and a large aquiline nose. 
" His step was measured and firm, and his whole bearing martial and 
"commanding. His character, which was formed in the field and camp, 
" remained unchanged through life. He was altogether a soldier, and 
" nothing but a soldier." The picture of this complete soldier and our 
earnest devoted clergyman participating in lotteries is not without inter- 
est for every generation. 

•^ A false report. Washington outgeneralled the enemy, and Howe 
afterward retreated, but there was no general action. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. II 3 

12. Wrote home No. 6, by Mr. Plumb, to Mr. Foster & 

Mr. Hall — General Sinclair & Formay arrived in 
Camp about 9 o'Clock, rained in the Morning — pur- 
chased two Tickets No. 57,674 & 58,449 jointly with 
Col! Francis & Littlefield & Major Lithgow — sent 
my JournaP Home to this date. 

13. Mr. Plumb set off for Boston at 4 oClock P. M. 

Showry — two persons bro'. in supposed to be Spies, 
who give an account that the Enemy are coming up 
10,000 strong. — 

14. The Regiment past muster — ^visited the Hospital at 

Mount Independence, the new Hospital about one 
third covered — 250 long & 24 wide — warm and 
pleasant — 

15. Sunday. Divine Service at Six "Clock, P. M. Matt. 

16, 26. — pleasant — 

16. Capt. Page &c arrived — receive Letters by Him from 

Master Herrick to the 30'J2 of May, fair & pleasant. 

17. Wrote Home No. 7, & to Mr. Plumb by Post — visited 

Hospital A. M. — the Camp alarmed about noon by 
some firing without the Lines — two men were taken 
& some killed near M'= In toshes by some Indians, 
who were pursued by Scouts, who on their return 
met with Lieut Taylor who went out yesterday with 
a party of twelve men which was suddenly encom- 
passed by them, exchanged several Shots wounded 
the Lieut : who escaped with two men, the others 
killed or taken — one dead Body found bro^. in belong- 
ing to Col° Hale's Reg'. — 

18. This morning 8 of Lieut Taylors men came in, one 

swam over the Lake — another Col" Hale's men found 
in Macintoshes field — General Schyler'- came into 

1 It is unfortunate that the Journal was not preserved, even if the 
diaries had been lost. Many of the meagre entries indicate that impor- 
tant matter had been treated accordingly elsewhere. 

2 Philip Schuyler, of Albany, was a Major-General in the army. He 
commanded at P'ort Edward when Ticonderoga was evacuated by St. 
Clair. He did not appreciate the quality of the New England troops, 
and excited the hostility of that section. He lacked the "soldier's eye" 



114 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Camp to-day— Major Lithgow^ went to Fort George 
on Court Martial — Rev? Allen of Pittsfield came into 
Camp. 

19. One Harris of Col? Hales Reg« killed by an accidental 

discharge of his own Gun — this morning Cap'. Whit- 
comb came in who went out yesterday, bro*. an In- 
dian Skalp killed by Taylors party — dined on roast 
Beef — fair Day — spent the evening in writing Letters 
by Cap'. Raymond — 

20. Wrote Home N° 8 & to Rev. Forbes Mr. Herrick & 

Brother David — Major Hull dined with us upon 
Roast Beef &c — Cap' Raymond set off for N. Eng- 
land; fair Day — 

21. Appointed Chaplain'^ to gen'. Pattersons Brigade — 

fair Day — 

22. Sunday. Major Lithgow returned from Fort George, 

bro'. dispatches from Gen'. Washington to Schuyler, 
giving an account of the Enemies getting to Morris- 
ania — confirming the late reports from Canada &c. 
fair Day but no Service, the men on fatigue & mov- 
ing into Tents— 
GeneralSchuyler left Camp — 

23. Dined at Genl Poors — receiv? a letter from Rev? Ward 

py Post — (Major Hull, Cap' Gray & others dined 
with us — 

24. Col? Meads came into Camp about 12 °Clock last 

1 William Lithgow, born in Georgetown, Maine, was a Major in the 
Continental line. He was known as an ardent patriot. After the war he 
was U. S. Attorney in Maine. 

2 Chaplain Smith (Guild's Life, p. 191) had a list of twenty-one 
Brigadier-Chaplains, dated Aug. 17, 1778. Hitchcock's name was 
included. 



and lost the confidence of his troops. Congress superseded him by 
Gates early in August. Gates was his personal enemy, and, though 
" sensible of the indignity," Schuyler showed great nobility of character 
and firm loyalty by doing everything to forward the work of his 
successor. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. II5 

Night, informs that the Enemy were very near 
Crown-point at Sundown — The morning opens fair 
& very warm — warm all Day — 

25. Col? Marshal dined with us — 

26. Some men fired upon by Indians one killed & Skalped, 

one Skalped & came in wounded in several parts, a 
Shower P. M. 

27. Rained last Night attended with much lightning — A 

Report of a number of Indians going to Skeene — 
very warm work upon our House — Shower at noon — 

28. An account of two large Vessels sailing down the 

Lake — turned out at Gunfiring attended Prayers on 
the Brigade parade before Sunrise — warm Day — 
about Sunset one of their Vessels was discovered 
this side five mile point by a boat of ours & three a 
little below, upon seeing our Boat (80 Rods distant) 
they hoisted two, chased & fired upon it, several 
fires were exchanged which soon communicated to 
y^ guard Boat who gave the Signal & an Alarm was 
fired — about half after 9 °Clock, I had just got into 
Bed, but immediately turned out & went parade, 
found the Brigade generally turned out & very 
Spirited — dismissed at half after eleven to lay on 
arms — Lieu'. Huax deserted to the Enemy — 

29. Sunday. Rise at gunfiring (j^ past 2 °Clock) nothing 

happened^ Attended prayers, dismissed at Sunrise, 
men all on Duty — 

30. Alarmed at (blotted) °Clock last Night by firing from 

the Picket guard — it proved false — about 7 °Clock 
the guard Boats coming in — 8 a number of Enemies 
Boats heave in sight, alarm Guns — Several Cannon 
discharged at the French lines at a party of Indians 
& others — Some Musketry with', the Picket drove 



1 One of those silly camp alarms, especially common among new 
troops and new organizations. Early in the Civil War General Burnside 
published a sensible and stringent order enjoining officers against the 
needless night-alarms which so often occurred. 



Il6 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

in — at noon men dismissed to get Refreshment — 
sent our Bagage to Mount Independ? — towards 
Night two Ships, several Sloops a lare number of 
Gun Boats & others stretch across the Lake within 
one & y^ mile of the Jersey Battery — Mr. Shaw 
came in with other Posts a little before Night, 
receive Letter from Home No. 3, Rev':' Foster & Fish 
& Brother David — extreme Hot — 
July I. No disturbance last Night. Attended prayers before 
Sunrise — the Enemy in Statu quo — good news from 
Genl Washington of the defeat of Hows Army, that 
genl Sullivan was in possession of Brunswick, 
Gen'. Green in possession of an advantage post 
between that & Amboy — & that the Enemy were 
fleeing precipitately — some firing at the mills — 

2. The Mills & Block Houses evacuated as not tenable & 

burnt — about 2 °Clock — 

four Boats^ came towards the Jarsey Battery — one 
Cannon discharged at them, three Signal Guns from 
the Enemies Ships — the Lines were soon maned 
about three °Clock a firing between the Picket & a 
party of Indians & Regulars it lasted more than half 
an Hour the Picket retreated with the lost of about 
five killed & Six wounded most of them bro'. in — the 
Enemy followed up till Col? Francis Reg^. fired over 
the Parapet some twice, some three Times — some 
Cannon was discharged at them they soon retreated 
— the men dismissed about Six °Clock — one Regular 
Soldier was taken — two Hessians deserted came to 
Mount Independ^ — they say the Enemy are 5600 
strong. 

3. A peacable Night, things iu Statu quo — about 700 

Maletia came into Camp P. Mr Hibbrt with them — 



lAccordinoj to Lieutenant Hadden (Rogers, p. 82) "The British 
" Troops disembarked on the Tyconderoga side about Four Miles Short 
" of it; and the Germans on the Mount Independence side." This was 
two small corps of Germans retained with the British. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 11/ 

the Enemy^ get possession of Mount Hope — Some 
Cannon fired at them opposite the Jersey Battery 
very warm — 

4. The Enemy at work'^ on the rising ground fronting 

French Lines several Cannon fired at them — 
extreme hot — 

5. Wrote Home by Mr. Shaw No. 9, the discovered on 

the Mount S. W. of Ti=some firing towards night — 
wind came in Cool & Crisp at 5 P. M. at N. W. — 
about 6 °Clock came for every man to furnish him- 
self with 24 rounds Extra & five Days provision, the 
Bumb drew in Shore & boats approach the Jersey 
Battery — at seven orders came for every man to be 
under Arms & march to their respective Alarm 
Posts — about nine orders for all to be ready with all 
their Effects to obey further orders^ — with great 
Reluctance I left our new dwelling at past nine came 
over to Mount Independence, got the Baggage down 
to the wharf & put it on board the Schooner & 
Gundeloe 

6. Sunday. at three oClock hoisted Sail under a very 

small breeze with all our Vessels & set off for 

1 Frazer's Corps, under command of Major-General Phillips. 

^ July 4th. Hadden (p. 84) says the British made a road to the top of 
a high mountain called Sugar Loaf Hill. " This height commands both 
'''' Mount Independence, and Tyconderoga — The former at the distance 
" of 1600 yards, and the latter at 1400." To leave such a position not 
defended was a singular oversight on the part of our commanding 
officers. It was claimed that we had not men enough to fortify the 
place. It was a gross blunder, for, on the third, one of St. Clair's aids 
promised Washington " the total defeat of the enemy." Bancroft, Vol. 
v., 160. St. Clair himself had said, " Should the enemy attack us they 
" will go back faster than they came." 

^ Lieutenant Hadden (p. 84) agrees that it was on the night of the fifth 
that " the Rebels 3 or Thousand in number abandoned their Works at 
"Tyconderoga and Mount Independence leaving behind them all the 
" Guns, Stores, and Provisions, except 300 Barrels of Powder on board 
" one of their Vessels." Our chaplain gives a graphic sketch of his 
experience in the movement. 



Il8 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Skeene — the Land Army march at the same time for 
Castleton, Col? commands the rear Guard 500 men — 
arrived at Skeene two Clock P. M. in about an Hour 
the Enemies Gun boats came up & fired at one of 
our Row gallies, a brisk & mutual Canonade followed 
for near half an Hour during which time I was im- 
ployed amidst flying ball in getting some of my bag- 
gage on board a boat above the falls, which with 
difficulty I effected & put off up Wood Crick the 
shoalness of the Water & many loggs in it render it 
extremly difficult passing in boats ; set off between 
three & four °Clock & with much difficulty & hard 
labor, working all Night in the water we reached 
Fort Ann about 

7. At ten °Clock, some boats in our rear cut off by 

Savages, the men mostly got in, but scattering partys 
continue to come in — about noon a Skirmish hap- 
pened between a small Scouting party & a few 
Indians & some regulars we lost three, killed & four 
wounded, — some Stores came in from Fort Edward — 
fair Day — 

8. Rested comfortably last Night, the Garrison was 

alarmed once but I did not turn out — about 9 °Clock 
a scouting party of a 100 men was sent out to go 
down the Crick to recover some lost Bagage, but 
soon met with a party of regular Troops about 300 a 
brisk firing came, 60 more went to reinfore them & 
then 30 & 20 more — the engagement last an Hour & 
half very warm — our loss was 10 killed and wounded 
— the Enemies supposed to be 40 or 50 killed and 
wounded, our men drove them from a little Breasts 
they had built up a hill — four of the Enemy were 
bro'. in, viz D^ Ciely of Lord Leigoniers Reg', well — 
Cap' Mongumery^ wounded in the Knee & two 
privates dangerously wounded — a Council of war" 

1 William Stone Montgomery, Captain in the Ninth Foot British, was 
" an officer of great merit." He died in captivity. 

2 Chaplains did not generally attend at councils of war. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I19 

was called at which I was present, it was agreed upon 
to evacuate to the Gurrison considering the weak 
State it was in as to ammunition, & the large Rein- 
forcement we had authentick assurance was on their 
way to the Enemy — left Fort Ann in flames between 
three & four "Clock P. M. travelled without Stoping 
to Fort Edward 14 miles in a heavy rain reached it 
at dark — 
9. Lodged at Col'? Snuths — General Fellows went for 
Fort Ann with a 1000 men — the fragment of our 
Army at this place in great Confusion without cover- 
ing — news of our main Body being at Castleton on 
Monday & of an Action there between Col° Warners 
Reg'. & some Indians & Hessians — cloudy most of 
the Day — about Ten °Clock found quarters at Mr. 
Jaleds — bo'. Yo a Lamb — 

10. Lodged at Mr. Jilled's, attended Prayers with Cap^ 

Farnum's men, Major Livingston came in from our 
Army brings account of an Action^ between our rere 
guard & about 1400 Enemy, considerable loss both 
sides — also of Col? Francis fall in the field — an Ac- 
count of some Enemy at Fort Ann, but Genl Fellows 
who went out yesterday with 600 men is about 4 
miles this side it — very warm — 

11. Cap' Farnum was sent out a Scout with 40 men, on 

hearing some Enemy were betwixt this Fort George — 
a 100 loads were bro'. fir thence yesterday as many 
gone for to Day — about 150 Maletia came in P. M. 
Accounts that the Enemy's main Body are at 
Skeene — rain^^ from 5 °Clock till Night — 

12. Rained all Night — Cap'. Farnum returned, made no 

discovery — Gen' Nixon's"^ Brigade arrived (800) and 

1 The battle of Hubbardton occurred on the morning of the seventh. 
It was a sharp contest. In all the wretched business of this retreat, there 
was no greater loss than that we met in the death of Ebenezer Francis. 
We cite Anburey's testimony: "whose death, though an enemy, will 
"ever be regretted by those who can feel for the loss of a gallant and 
"brave man." 

"John Nixon, of Framingham, Mass., served at Louisburg in 1745. 



120 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

encamped on the high land to the N. W. of the Fort^ 
the Genlf from Ti= arrived, the Army left at Fort 
Miller — some Maletia came from Berkshire County, 
they are all on the move — 

13. Sunday. Rained last Night — two prisoners bro« in 

who say the Enemy have left Skeene & returned 
to Ti= ; that 1 5 officers were bro'. dead, to Skeene ; 
no service; lowry Day 

14. The parts of Regiments from Skeene ordered down to 

Moses Crick five miles below Fort Edward — came 
down about 5 "Clock P. M. Gen', Poor's Brigade came 
up from Fort Miller — receiv"? Letter from Mr. Plumb 
— wrote Home No. 10. 

15. Went down to Fort Miller to see our people found 

them comfortable — dined at Gen'. Pattersons, a per- 



1 At Fort Edward the American army rested ; after a time, being 
reorganized and reinforced, it regained confidence. Washington made 
every sacrifice, freely risking his own campaign, to secure ultimate suc- 
cess for the Northern army. He sent in reinforcement Arnold, who was 
then a gallant man, and Lincoln, who had the confidence of the Eastern 
troops. Morgan's corps of picked riflemen was one important reinforce- 
ment. An excellent Brigade, under Glover, from the Continental line, 
was taken from the central army, which could ill spare it. As has been 
stated, the ill-fated Schuyler was replaced by Gates early in August. 

But a chief factor in turning defeat into victory developed through the 
incapacity of the enemy. Burgoyne's attack at Ticonderoga, his pursuit 
to Hubbardton and Skenesborough was capable and energetic. This 
was his last forcible or judicious conduct. Instead of moving around to 
Lake George and following by the old roads and easy water communi- 
cation, he halted a fortnight. " Britons never recede." Therefore he 
must cut a direct road some twenty-eight miles through dense forests 
and morasses to Fort Edward, — " Forty bridges" and one " log-work " of 
two miles through morass indicate the toilsome work. He wore out his 
victorious legions in these midsummer labors, while his defeated rival 
was recovering strength. 



He was at Lexington and Bunker Hill; at Stillwater he commanded the 
First Brigade of the Massachusetts line. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 121 

son taken up for a Spy in Camp — two Waggons cut 
off between Yz way & 5 mile Brook — Maletia come in 
fast — fair Day — 

16. Lodged on the floor at Mr. Day's — Rev? Lyman came 

into Camp — Fort George evacuated — 

17. Wrote Home No. 11 & to Mr. Foster, our Brigade 

came from Fort Miller up to the Island — 

1 8. An Express from Col? Warner that he has retreated 

to Allington — wrote Home N? 12 by Mr. Yancey 
moved from Mr. Days down to Gen'. Pattersons 
opposite Chuylers alias Pattersons Island where the 
Brigade is encamped — fair Day 

19. Gen'. Poor &c dined upon roast mutton & green peas — 

warm — 

20. Sunday. Divine Service^ at J^ past 10 oClock on 

Patterson Island among the Trees, Neh : 4, 14 A M. 
the Brigade generally attended ; two regulars & two 
Tories bro'. in prisoners taken by some of our Indians 
6 miles beyond Fort Ann — Gen'. Poors servant & 
Col? Cilleys Son sent into Camp — Receiv? a Letter 
from Rev"? Cutler by the Post. 

21. Letter from Lieu^ Chadburn gives account of the 

Prisoners at Ti= Dodge, Raymond &c among 
them — raind last Night, fair Day Col? Putnams 
Reg', came in — 

22. Wrote Home N? 13, to Rev^ Cutler & Brothers; 

Gen'. Fellows lodg^ here last Night is going Home 
with part of the Maletia — 

^ Religious observances in campaigning often leave much to be desired. 
When circumstances favor, the result accords happily. We may imagine 
that this beaten army on this quiet Sabbath " among the trees " re- 
sponded to the war-note, " Be not ye afraid of them," from the prophet 
of Israel. The present writer recalls an equivalent experience in our 
Civil War. The command had been engaged at Bull Run, losing heavily. 
Ordered to Point of Rocks, Md., it commemorated its first quiet Sab- 
bath, among the trees. A private soldier (since distinguished as a civil 
engineer) preached, not after the manner of Israel's fiery prophet, but 
with the fervor of a true Christian. 



122 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Gen'. Arnold^ came by & dined with us, fair Day 

23. Twenty of our men taken about 7 miles this side Fort 

Ann Yesterday moved into Gen'. Patersons new 
House on the Island, dined on an excellent Loin of 
mutton. 

24. Walked up to Gen'. Nixon's Brigade — two men killed a 

little above them towards Fort Edward by some 
Indians — dined on pig — receiv? a Blanket of the 
public Stores — receiv? of Mr. Conant 20"^ two months 
pay, paid Adjutant Francis 46 Dollars on the Col^ 
Account. 

25. Wrote Home N? 14, by the Adjutant ; went down to 

Fort Miller, dined with D^ Hale, no occurrences — 
fair Day 

26. Six brass field pieces arrived in Camp — rained P. M — 

we were alarmed about 2 "Clock by an attack at Fort 
Edward — The Enemy, supposed near a 1000 crept 
up & by Surprize fir'' on the Picquet Guard, kill<^ & 
Scalped them, the Guard retreated & were pursued 
within 40 Rods of the Fort took away two women 
from the House, killed, Scalped & mangled one in a 
most inhumane man^ ; four are missing ; 

27. Sunday. Divine Service at 11 °Clock, A. M. Is: 57, 

21, at 5 P. M. Ps. 53, I. Some further accounts of 
what hap ned at Fort Edward Yesterday — the Lieut : 
who commanded the Piquet, Van Vechten, was killed, 
scalped & cut his Hands off — & otherwise mangled — 
The two Women, Mrs. Jenny Mj^Cray^ & Widow 
Cambell were going to meet the Enemy for protec- 
tion, when they came up to them were shot & 



1 Benedict Arnold, of Norwich, Conn., Major-General in the army, 
whose infamous treason is too well known. Brave and erratic, rash and 
destitute of moral principle, he was a comet among patriots. 

-The murder of Miss Jane Maccrea was like many other Indian 
atrocities, but it shocked the whole civilized world. Burke used the 
story with thrilling effect in the House of Commons, when he arraigned 
the government for employing savages. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 123 

Scalpd & most inhumanly boochered— the former 
found yesterday the other to Day— the advance Body 
of the are on the flat about the Fort supposed 

about a looo — 

28. An Express from Fort Edward about break of Day, 

say they are Surrounded ; the account afterward 
proves groundless Wrote Home No. 15 per Post — 
Gen'. Nixon's Larnerd's^ & Tinbrook's'-^ Brigade 
came down from Sneaks Creek, Learnard's encamp*? 
by Moses Creek — Nixon's on the rise N. E. of 
River— Brooks on S. W. Side. A Scout returned 
towards eveng — who went out yesterday, who give an 
account of a horrid murder of a Family about four 
N. E. of Fort Miller: the Father, Mother & six 
Children killed and left to be torn by the Hogs- 
Major Lithgow returned from Albany — 

29. Col? Brewer with 150 men sent to Fort Miller to scout 

the woods N. E. Col? Cilley^ with the same number 
from Moses Creek to go east & meet them — about 9 
°Clock a man & Boy killed & one wounded near Fort 
Miller by two lurking Fellows who contended about 
the Scalp of the Boy ; the man not Scalp"? ; 1 1 
"Clock a small party y'. went out back of Head qL^ 
about % of mile were fired upon by Indians one 
Corp', killed, private wounded — about the same time 
an Indian fired upon a Centry N. E. from Gen'. Nixon 

1 Ebenezer Learned, of Framingham, Mass., was a captain in the 
French War. He led the third Massachusetts Regiment to Cambridge 
the day after the battle of Lexington. Congress commissioned him a 
Brigadier-General April 2, 1777. He was thanked with General Poor in 
Gates' order of September 26th for "the valiant behavior" of their 
brigades at Freeman's Farm. 

2 Abraham Ten Broeck, of Albany. He commanded a brigade at the 
battle of Bemis Heights. 

3 Joseph Cilley, of Nottingham, N. H., afterward General, commanded 
the first N. H. Regiment. He was an active officer who distinguished 
himself at Bemis Heights, was at Stony Point, Monmouth, and in 
Sullivan's expedition against the Indians, serving through the war. 



124 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Brigade ; wounded him in the Neck — a Small Scout 
20 came in, which met with a party of Indian,s sup- 
posed 70, fired & killed one & ran — about 12 "Clock 
alarmed by an Express from Fort Miller that they 
were attacked by a number of Enemy but proved — 
one of our Spies came in who says the Enemy had 
almost cleared the road from Fort Ann which we 
had blocked up — by one of our men who deserted 
from the Enemy informs that they have 7500 en- 
camped at Skeene who are to come forw? as soon as 
possible — our number now about 4000 — 
30. In Council of war held at six this morning it was 
determined upon to retreat^ to Surratoga — our Bri- 
gade was ordered to decamp immediately the huts to 
rafted which was done, we left the Island at 12 
"Clock, soon reached Fort Miller, one-half of the 
Brigade tarried there, the other came down to M^ 
Niels 3 miles I came with them & down to Gen! 
Schuylers — Gen'. Fornays'^ & Tinbrooks Brigade at- 
tacked in their rear by a party of the Enemy, one of 
ours killed, one of Genl Arnolds Aid de Camps 
wounded & two or three others — no great done — 

1 This was a good movement, bringing our army nearer to its natural 
base and carrying the enemy farther from his. 

2 Fornay stands for Roche de Fermoi (or Fermoy), a Colonel from the 
French army, made Brigadier-General by Congress. We have drawn 
more blanks than prizes in our European officers, and Fermoi appar- 
ently was of the former sort. St. Clair's friends charged him with the 
worst casualties in the retreat from Ticonderoga, in that he fired his 
quarters at Mount Independence, thereby exposing the rear to Frazer's 
pursuit. " One of the worst of the adventurers was this very General 
Fermoy, who brought disaster upon the rear of St. Clair's army after the 
successful retreat from Ticonderoga." Smith's St. Clair, I., 65 n. 

Gates dismissed Fermoi with a letter to Hancock September 14, 1777, 
containing this shrewd diplomatic praise : " I have much respect for the 
" Long Service and Rank of General Fermoi and wish circumstances 
" had made it convenient to have retained him here." (Gates' MS. Papers, 
N. Y. Historical Society. Rogers' MS. Notes.) 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 25 

Gen'. Lincoln^ came up — met with Mr Shaw at the 
Barracks, Letter from Home & Rev<^ Morrel & 
Brother David — 
31. Lodged at Genl Schuylers^ went up to Mr. Niels the 
Army pass^ down the other side, except Gen'. Poors 
Brigade which stopt here — Genl Glovers Brigade^ 
arrived at Surratoga — 
August I. Lodged at Mr. Niels last night ; the Brigade 
came down & encamp^ by the Barracks, 2 Miles, 
Genl Glover & Col? Wigglesworth* came in— heard 
of D' Leonards suicide, one man wounded & partly 
Scalped the east side of the River — rained a little 

2. Lodged last Night with D^ Wingate — Mrs. Ranken 

cut Her throat — Capt Whitcombe came in after a 
weeks scout with four men, observed the Enemy's 
movements from Skeene, they arriv? at Fort Edward 
to Day — fair Day— 

3. Sunday. Wrote Home N" i6, by Mr. Shaw — we were 

alarmed about 7 "Clock by some firing towards Mf 
Niels. Major Hull commanded an advance party 
there they were surprized by some Indians as they 
were coming off. Gen'. Paterson with His Brigade & 
part of Glovers were to support them, in mean Time 

1 Benjamin Lincoln, of Hingham, Mass., was a Major-General in the 
army, and after September 29th was second in command under Gates. 
He had fair military ability and great force of character. 

2 Schuyler's house was afterwards the scene of Burgoyne's last orgy, 
in company with his mistress and military friends. In the morning he 
ordered it fired with the barn ; for which he has been much censured. 
Other critics, not partial to him, claim that the burning was a military 
necessity. See Kingsford History of Canada, VI., 262-3. The story of 
the supper, commonly received, is disputed in Baxter's note to Digby''s 
Journal, p. 43. 

^ Of the Continental line. 

♦Edward Wigglesworth, of Ipswich, Mass., was commissioned Colonel 
of Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment November 6, 1776. He resigned 
March 10, 1779. 



126 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

a party of 40 was sent out about 2 Miles S. W. were 
attacked by some Tories, some were killed, some 
wounded — Major Hulls party lost three, some 
wounded — the Brigade return^ from M' Niels P. M. 
the Army set from Surratoga between 4 & 5 °Clock, 
we marched thro' the mud & some rain till 12 °Clock 
when we arrived at Still Water, encamped on the 
wet ground — 

4. Mr. Shaw set off this morning — an alarm at 9 °Clock 

occasioned by some Inhabitants moving in — two 
Tories bro'. in taken about 6 miles East, with passes 
& Certificates, in Arms — fair Day — 

5. Rained most of the Day — by a prisoner who deserted 

from Ti= we learned that one of our people had 
found a pocket Book, belonging to a British Officer 
in which was found a return of all they had lost in 
the several Skirmishes since our Retreat — viz — at 
Houghberton 292 killed & died of their wounds — 
at Fort Ann 96, many officers among them ; also 
that they could find only 19 dead among our Slain — 
four Tories bro' in bound one of which is a Clergy- 
man — 

6. Visited the Hospital — considerable rain — began to 

break ground on the flat — no remarkable occurrences 

7. Drew from the Store one pair Shoes two of Stockings 

&c receive a Letter from Rev? Ward dated July 
231:^ very warm Col" Long^ & Reg' left Camp — 

8. Alarmed this morning by a Major with two Boy & a 

Waggon being taken east side of the River bound to 
Cambridge — from deserters from the Enemy — a 
Sergeant & three privates, Hanoverians left Fort 

1 Pierse Long, of Portsmouth, N. H., of Irish stock, whence so much 
of our fighting blood has come. Colonel first N. H. Regiment. Here- 
pulsed the ninth British in the action of July 7th (see Stone's BurgoynC; 
p. 26), under Lieutenant-Colonel Hill. On the surrender at Saratoga, 
Hill stole the colors of his regiment, secreted them in his baggage, and 
carried them home. For this service he was appointed aid to the king. 
See Rogers' note, Hadden, p. 90. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 12/ 

Edward last Monday— inform that the Enemy have 
6500 there, that they are preparing to come on but 
much embarassed for want of Carriages — P. M. a 
young man & his Father coming to Camp on the east 
side the was shot & Scalp*? — Cap'. Warren who 
went out in the Morning with a Company Infantry, 
fell in with about 12 Indians He having advanced 
with only 4 men, briskly, engaged them held his 
Ground, lost one & killed an Indian & bro' in his 
Scalp — 
9. Cap'. Warren receive the public thanks of the Gen', for 
his spirited behavior yesterday Excessive hot ; news 
of an Engage', near Fort Schuyler — 

10. Sunday. No Service, not well to Day — warm — 

11. Wrote Home N? 17 & to Rev^ Ward per Post — very 

warm — 

12. Gen'. S' Clair set of, for Philadelphia — Gen'. Larnard & 

his Brigade marched for Fort Schuyler — Gen'. Lin- 
coln came to Camp — very warm a Shower 

13. Gen'. Arnold set out for Fort Schuyler — very warm 

14. Showry very warm, no remarkable occurrence, to Day 

Col? Brewer went out to Scatter rock after Cattle 

15. Rained last Night, agreeable to Gen'. Orders the Army 

turned out at 2 °Clock, threw their Boards together 
in heaps — about Six set Still Water\ marched to half 
Moon where we arrived about 4 oClock P. M. rained 
most of the Day — Genls Glover Nixon & Poors Bri- 
gades stoped at the Landing 6 Miles below Still 
Water, our Brigade came past two Branches on to 
Van Schoiks Island — 

16. Lodged at Mr. Van Shoicks an Elegant House on an 

Island of best Land formed by the 2"'' & 31^ Branch of 
the Mowhawk River — this morning a despatch ar- 



1 This was the last backward movement of our army. After Gates 
took command he returned to Stillwater. At Stillwater we rested, and 
when the enemy finally advanced to Freeman's Farm, he received his 
fatal repulse. Bancroft, V., 181, puts the place nine miles above Albany. 



128 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

rived from Bennington^ informs that Gen'. Frazer 
with his flying Camp was within 5 miles of the 
Meeting House ; that we were almost round them — 
Mr. Plumb came into Camp P. M. by whom I receivl 
Letters from Home & Rev? Willard — 

17. Sunday. No Service to Day, the men all employed, 

receive Letter from Phebe Parsons, Gen'. Lincoln — 
marched to the Grants — 

18. Wrote Home N? 18, by Mr. Davis of Cam to Rev"^ 

Willard, Cousin Phebe & Brother Moses — An Ex- 
press from Bennington inform that they had an 
Engagement that we had taken 400 prisoners & four 
Field pieces — 

19. By Express this morning have following list of Prison- 

ers taken at Bennington, viz — i Lieu'. Col? — i Major 
8 Caplf — 14 Lieut^ 4 Ensigns — 2 Cornets — i Judge 
Advocate — i Baron — 2 Canadian officers — 6 Sur- 
geons — 37 British Soldiers — 398 Hessians — 38 Cana- 
dians — 151 Tories — 4 Brass Field pieces — 80 killed — 
200 wounded & fell into our Hands — Gen'. Gates'* 

^ Burgoyne's expedition under Colonel Baum to Bennington was badly 
planned, and worse executed. Lieutenant Hadden aptly says {Journal, 
p. 136) that it was unjust to lay the whole fault on Breymann — who was 
much blamed for his tardy march in support — "when almost every per- 
"son concerned seems to have had a principal share in the disaster." It 
was the beginning of the end of the British. They not only lost guns 
and prisoners, but the more essential loss of opportunity to buy from 
the country horses and wagons, which were badly needed. 

The action had many elements of romance. Stark disobeyed orders, 
or he would not have been there, to cut off Baum. His apothegm doom- 
ing Molly Stark to widowhood was worth a song of Homer to the States. 
In his report, he said, "we have returned a proper compliment in the 
"above action for the Hubbartown engagement." It was one of the few 
successes of militia against regular troops. 

2 Horatio Gates was a Major-General born in England and a godson of 
Horace Walpole. He was regularly trained in the British army, taking 
part in Braddock's expedition. He is entitled to credit for good general- 
ship in securing the surrender of Burgoyne, as will appear. He com- 
manded also in the worst defeat of the whole war, which occurred at 
Camden. His intrigues against Washington, seeking the chief command 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 129 

arrived into Camp this Evening — visited the Hos- 
pital — new City — fair & pleasant Genl? Nixon's & 
Glovers Brigades came on to the first Island — 

20. Genl Schuyler let Camp, bound to the southward- 

went to see the great falls said to near a hundred feet 
perpendicular — catch out in a heavy shower — 

21. Col? Brewer, who was sent with the women to guard 

Stores to Bennington, returned with 40 Tories taken 
in the Action there— Returned to Mess with Col° 
Littlefield extreme hot 

22. Very hot to Day — visited Hospital at new City — 

23. Two Tories bro'. in 

24. Sunday. Divine Service at 5 °Clock P. M. i Cor: 15, 

19. Receive a Letter from Mr. Foster per Post — 
Wrote Home N? 19 & to Mr. Foster by Post — 4 
Hessian deserters^ bro». & 4 Waldeck prisoners taken 

1 Desertion troubled Burgoyne as his order shows August 21, 1777 : 
" The general zeal of this Army in the cause of the King and the 
'* British constitution, is too apparent to admit a suspicion of the crime 
' of Desertion, ever entering into the men's minds, except when they are 
" intoxicated, or imposed upon by Emissaries of the Enemy . . such 
" Emissaries have dared to intrude in the Camp, by spurious promises 
". . perhaps by a readiness in the German language. . . In regard 
" to Deserters themselves, all outposts, Scouts and working Parties, of 
" Provincials and Indians, are hereby promised a reward of twenty 
"Dollars for every Deserter they bring in; and in case any Deserter 
" should be killed in the pursuit, their scalps are to be brought off." — 
Orderly Book, p. 79. September 30 (p. 123), Burgoyne pays his respects 
to the drivers: "They are also to be informed that the first Deserter 
" taken belonging to them will be hanged up immediately." 

for himself, aroused the just indignation of the whole country. We may 
consider that he possessed fair military ability, though our diarist (p. 109, 
MS.) participates in the prejudice against him current at the time. 
Kingsford (History Canada, VI., 229), who may be accounted disinter- 
ested, says, "although there is nothing to warrant the mention of Gates' 
name with very high laudation, at the same time there is no just reason 
" for the exaggerated depreciation of his character, which is constantly 
''to be met in United States biographies." He assumed command, 
displacing Schuyler at the time stated by Hitchcock. 



130 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

near Surratoga by a Sergeant & 4 men — Several 
Tories — Receiv? a Letter this Evening from Cap! 
Batchelder wrote to Him by the Post — 

25. Went to Albany in the P. M. rained most of the P. M. 

put up with M^ Plumb at M": Roorbeck's news that 
the Enemy left Fort Stanwix left their Tents Stand- 
ing & all heavy Bagage — 

26. Dined at D^ Potts's — returned to Camp P. M. rainy 

most of the Day — 

27. Report y'. our Troops have possession of Long Island 

&c— 

28. Dined at Genl Gates's^ — Eighty Connecticut light 

Horse came into Camp, were ordered over to Pitts- 
town half way to Bennington — visited Hospital — 

29. No noticeable occurrence to Day 

30. Eight Hundred Riflemen- arrived to Gen'. Poors 

Camp — Mr. Shaw & Pearson came into Camp this 
Evening receiv^ Letters ill Home of y^ 8, 11, & to 
y^ 25^; from Rev* Morrell to 22 Aug'. : 

31. Sunday. Divine Service at 11 °Clock A. M. Jer : 

2, 19, at 4 P. M. Exod : 15, 3, very Warm. 
Do thou, great Liberty, inspire our Souls 
& make our Lives in thy possession happy 
or our Deaths glorious in thy just Defence 
September i. A Troop of Connecticut Horse came into 
Camp — Genl Lincoln & Parmer came from Bening- 
ton — visited Hospital attended funeral of a Sergeant 
of Col? Bradfords Regf just at Night a Flagg came 
in from Burgoine on the subject of Torys being 
killed in cool blood. 



1 Our author evidently was persona grata in all the relations of life. 
He had the true social gift and was received accordingly everywhere, as 
may be seen in these scant records. Chaplains are either greater or less 
than the place demands. If they are superior men, they become excel- 
lent military ministers, or the reverse follows. 

2 This must have been Morgan's command, though the number is 
probably overstated. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D, D. I31 

2. Prisoners bro'. in from the Germane flats taken as 

Spies— Accounts of Gen'. Washington passing Phila- 
delphia — Receiv? Letter from Rev^ Ward & Brother 
David, & wrote to them by Mr Shaw — Wrote Home 
N? 20, sent a 20 Doll Bill — wrote to Rev<? Morrill & 
Mrs. Francis — 

3. Dined at Genl Glovers with Brigadier Palmer & D' 

Taylor wrote to Cap'. Batchelder— 

4. Accounts receiv? y^ y^ Enemy are bumbarding Balti- 

more — Brigade mustered & viewed at Night by 
Brigadier Palmer & D^ Taylor — 

5. Went to Gen'. Poors Brigade, Dined at Col? Brooks's 

— one of Cap'. Maybury's men ran from the Enemy 
say they are coming down. 

6. Receive Letter from M^ Foster p": Post — 

Genl Orders Sept 6, 1777 
The Genls commanding Divisions, & the Genl! & 
Col°^ commanding Brigades to see y' y^ commanding 
Officers of Regiments & Corps have every thing in 
immediate readiness for a March y'. w^ Gen'. Orders'-^ 
are issu'? , y= Army may have only to Strike V. Tents, 
load their Baggage & instantly on y^ word being 
given, march off y^ Ground — 
A very large Army of Maletia^ with a Brigade of 
Continent Troops, under y^ Command of Gen'. Lin- 

ijohn Brooks, M. D., LL. D., of Medford, Mass., was a brilliant 
soldier and an accomplished man. A fellow-student of Count Rumford,^ 
the bent of his mind and his education made him the associate of 
Steuben, when the latter became the Inspector-General of the army in 
1778. They formed the system of tactics. In this campaign, he was 
Colonel of the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment. 

" The abounding rhetoric of the order does not exaggerate the rising 
of the militia to repel Burgoyne's invasion. Through the Connecticut 
valley and eastward to Middlesex and Essex in Massachusetts, the 
hardy freemen mustered at the call of Washington. They assisted our 
campaign by their reinforcement in the battles, and yet more by their 
operations on the communications of the British. The enemy's supplies 
were practically cut off before the surrender at Saratoga. 

3 Whatever the middle and southern colonies may have thought of the 



132 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

coin & Genl Starks, being now assembled on y 
Grants, & every necessary preparation for t^ acting 
in Concert with this Army, upon y^ point of being 
compleated, the whole force must be prepared to 
march upon y^ Shortest notice — 

To drive y« Enemy with Disgrace & defeat back to 
Canada, is y^ Object of the present Campaign — What 
has been so Successfully begun under Gen'. Starks & 
Col? Warner to y^ Eastward, & by Genl Harkemer & 
Col? Gansivoort to y^ Westward cannot with y= Bless- 
ing of Hvn, fail to be equally prosperous in y«= 
Hands of y^ Genl! & Soldiery appointed to face y* 
Enemy's main Army to y^ North — 

If the murder of aged Parents with their Innocent 
Children — If mangling the Blooming Virgin & 
Inoffensive youth be Incitments to Revenge ! 
If the Righ'5 Cause of Freedom, & y= Happiness of 
Posterity, be motives to Stimulate The Army to con- 
quer their Mercenary & merciless Foes — ! The Time 
is now come when they are called upon by V. Country, 
by their Genl!, by every Reason humane & Divine, 
to vanquish their Enemies — 

Each State in particular & y*^ grand Convention of the 
united States in general are at this moment Indis- 
criminally employed to provide their Armies with 
every Comfort & necessary that can possibly be 
procured — 

Duty, Gratitude & Honor must Ergo inspire the Heart 
of every Officer and Soldier, to do Justice to theti 
much injured Country ! 



militia of New England, the testimony of one of our chief antagonists 
was clear and decisive. Sir William Howe (Narrative p. i8) says, 
" Besides, the provinces of New England are not only the most populous, 
" but their militia, when brought to action, the most persevering of any 
" in all North America; and it is not to be doubted that General Wash- 
" ington, with his main army, would have followed me into a country 
" where the strength of the Continent, encouraged by his presence, would 
" have been most speedily collected." 



DIARV OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 33 

7. Sunday. Shower last Night with much Lightning — 

Divine Service at 1 1 "Clock A. M. at 4 P. M. Exds : 
5, 16 Ezra 9, 13, 14— Orders came out at Eight 
Clock in Evening for all Tents to be Struck & the 
Army to be under way at Gunfiring — Wrote Home 
p" Post N? 21 & to M^ Foster — 

8. Rose at 4 "Clock, Tents Struck & load at Gunfiring— 

march"? off the Island at Nine, forded the Sprorts, to 
half Moon where we joined Genl» Covers & Nixon's 
Brigade, go on to the Widow peoples's; about 4 
Miles — where Genl Arnolds Division & Col? Morgans 
Riflemen joined, halted half Hour— go about four 
Miles further & encamp— a fine Day & the men in 
very high Spirits— three Tories escaped from the 
main Guard last Night. 

9. Rose at 4 Tents & Baggage loaded, the Army marched 

off at eight "Clock- reached Still Water at 11. 
Col? Francis Regiment ordered on the Hill on the 
east side the River— cool Day — Col? Baldwin^ began 
a bridge a Cross the River in y^ afternoon — 

10. A very rainy Night, my Tent blew over— Col? Beadle 

from the Grants mentions that 45 Families of St 
Francis Indians had mov^ to Coos to avoid fighting 
ag'. us— The Bridge finished by the middle of the 
Afternoon — 

11. Genl Starks's Brigade under command of Col? Ashley 

(600) arrived, took possession of the hight Col? Fran- 
cis RegV order to join the Brigade — came over just at 
Night, — The whole Army ordered to be under Arms 
at retreat beating 

12. The Army decamped from Still Water at Six & 

marched up the road two & out about half a Mile to 
the westward of the road, behind Beemuses^ en- 

1 Jeduthan Baldwin, of Woburn, Mass., was a Colonel of Engineers in 
the Continental corps. His command is spoken of as a "regiment of 
artificers." 

^ This strong position at Behmus' Heights was intrenched and became 
the citadel of our army. Stone puts the distance three miles north of 



134 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

camped of the heights — Goodale returned & bro'. me 
a Letter from Home dated Sep! 2"i — rainy — the 
Bridge bro'. up — 

13. Invitation to dine at Headquarters while I was there 2 
Prisoners were bro-' in from near Surratoga from whence 
four were bro'. in the morning — by their accounts the 
Enemy are moving tow^ us, their army all collected 
near Surratoga — various in their Accounts of their 
Strength — I saw a Letter to the Gen', from one M^ 
Clerk of N. Perth, the Grants, a Clergyman who is 
gone out with protection to offer to Tories who will 
return — who says the road from Fort Edward is 
lined with Tents eno' to hold 16000 men — That Gen! 
Lincoln is possessed of Fort Ann, Skeene & some 
say Fort George" This is report 
Col? Hale is under confinement at Albany- — entrench- 
ments throwing up, from y^ Hill to y^ River — 

Sunday 14. Divine Service at 4 °Clock P. M. Ps : J15, 11 
fair Day — Wrote Home N? 22 pr Post. — 

15. Two Tories bro'. in to Day — The British Troops at 
Surratoga, Hessians opposite to M^ Niel's — Drew a 
pair of Breeches from the Store at 6 Dolls & a yi — 
Col? Colman who went out Saturday with 300 men 
to observe the Enemy's motions, returned & says 
they have 1000 Tents, that they struck them all 
except a few & moved at 12 "Clock & their rear 
started off at two, marched this way — in conseq? of 
this Intelligence the ordered that the whole Army to 
lay upon their Arms, & to turn out at 4 °Clock 
tomorrow morning, expecting an Attack about that 
Time, The Army are in fine Spirits — dined at Head- 
quarters — 



Stillwater. The action of September 19th was at Freeman's Farm, 
further north. The action of October 7th, and the last, was in the final 
attempt of Burgoyne to turn this position. 

(Diary of Enos Hitchcock , D. D., to te continued.') 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D, D. I47 

(Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., continued from page 134.) 

16. The Army turned out agreeable to orders & went to 

their Alarm Posts but not Enemy appear — a Deserter 
or Prisoner bro'. in last night — the Enemy within Six 
Miles of us — Genl Starks came into Camp last Even- 
ing, informs that Genl Lincoln is gone to Ti= that 
Col? Brown ^ with a looo men is gone to Fort 
George = Orders for two days provisions to be 
cooked ^ this Afternoon Flagg came in to bring 
Cap'. Watkins & Lain on Parole for two months — one 
British Soldier & two Tories taken & bro'. in — one 
Tory Ensign — Wrote Home N? 22. by Mr. Appleby. 

17. The morning a quarrel hapned between one Saml Hem- 

menway & Dudley Broadstreet of Cap'. Thorn's 
Company, the former thrust a Knife into the Neck of 
the latter, cut the jugelar vein partly, a dangerous 
wound ! This Evening orders for the whole Army to 
have their Tents & baggage loaded at 4 the morning 
& be under Arms — 

18. Turned out & loaded Baggage &c at 4, ^ a fine Morn- 

ing — about Sunrise Genl Arnold's Division marched 
past in the Road by River & part in western Road 
the Carpenters go forward to build Bridges — our 
Brigade repaired at 7 oClock to their Alarm Post — 
the advance Body of the Enemy said to be within 

1 John Brown of Sandisfield, Mass., a vigorous patriot, under the orders 
of Gen. Lincoln, surprised the outposts of Ticonderoga, set free 100 
American prisoners, captured four companies of regulars with stores and 
cannon. He destroyed a number of boats and an armed sloop; alto- 
gether he struck a hard blow at the British. Brown foresaw the treachery 
of Arnold, and left the Northern army on account of his detestation of 
the future traitor. 

- This daily practice of breaking camp added much to the mobility of 
Gates' command. He could not know just where or when the enemy 
would appear and was always ready. It deceived the enemy. After 
Freeman's Farm, because the Americans packed baggage, Burgoyne 
thought they were about to run. 



148 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

two ^ Miles the main about tJiree ^ ■ — Cap'. Chadwick 
came across 33 of the Enemy getting Potatoes/ fired 
& killed one, wounded 3 & took 8 — Genl Arnold with 
Division went near their Camp but nothing capital 
happened — fine Day. 
19. This Day about ten °Clock accounts receiv? that the 
Enemy are advancing ^ — the Army all under Arms 
— a large body Col? Morgan's men & others, sent 
out — a Skirmish began between them & a Body of 
Enemy at half after one, lasted half an Hour, very 
hot about 17 minutes, beat the Enemy of the ground 
— took some well & all the wounded — at 40 minutes 
after tJiree & lasted three Hours very hot — we drove 
them half a mile— constant reinforcements on both 

^ This potato skirmish was exaggerated by the British. Anburey puts 
the killed and wounded near thirty (Digby's Journal and citation from 
A. p. 270). Anburey apparently forgets that soldiers within three miles 
of an active enemy are liable to be hurt, whether digging potatoes or 
levelling their muskets. 

2 The battle of Freeman's Farm, often called the first battle of Still- 
water, or of Saratoga, was the turning point in Burgoyne's career, and it 
virtually decided the fate of his army. Like most European tacticians, 
when moving in America, he does not appear to have availed of his 
Indians, scouts, or other means, to find out where his enemy was located, 
or how posted. On the nineteenth of September he made "a scout," as 
he called it, " if occasion served, to attack the rebels on the spot." There 
was an elaborate formation in three columns about half a mile apart (see 
Lamb's Journal of the American War, p. 158); the right consisting of 
light troops from the various regiments with Breyman's German riflemen, 
commanded by Gen. Fraser; the centre comprising 20th, 21st, 62d regi- 
ments, commanded by Gen. Hamilton and led by Burgoyne in person ; 
the left bringing the British artillery with the remaining Germans, and 
commanded by Generals Phillips and Riedesel. 

According to Digby's Journal, p. 270, the British had intelligence at 
daybreak that Morgan was posted three miles from them, with the main 
body a half mile in his rear, very strongly posted. By all American ac- 
counts, Morgan was sent out after the British advance begun. Hitch- 
cock's statement is strictly correct, so far as it goes. One hundred 
" Picquets" under Major Forbes 9th British (see Hadden, p. 163) were 
severely punished by Morgan, at one or half-past one, who in turn was 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 49 

sides made Success various, we took three field pieces 
from them but not be able to bring them off being no 
road, they retook them — the action ceased, as night 
approached — tis impossible to determine what Suc- 
cess as we can', find either their or our loss, it must 
be considerable on both — many wounded of both 
bro'. in— among the Slain Col! Colburn & Adams — 
20. This morning agreeable to orders, all turned out at 
three "Clock. Struck Tents & loaded all baggage 
ready to move at 4 — ^the Brigade repair to their 
Alarm Post at break off Day & their tarried all Day 
— the Baggage sent down to Still Water — the 
wounded to Albany, about 160 of ours between 
twenty & thirty of theirs were bro^ off the field yes- 
terday — the dead said to be 40 — a hundred Indians 
came from Albany — fair Day — two or three Deserters 
came in say that Gen'. Burgoyne is wounded m the 
Body- 
Sunday 21. Turned out & went to alarm post at four 
"Clock this morning. Brigade remained there most of 
the Day, several small Showers — news of Col? Brown 
taking the French lines &c- — thirteen Cannon ^ dis- 

1 Digby (p. 276) says "they fired 13 heavy guns, which we imagined 

" might be signals for an attack ; and which would be the most fortunate 

event that we could have wished, our position being so very advanta- 

"geous." The "National Salute," which disturbed the British then, 

has been heard many times since. 



repulsed by a battalion wheeled over from Fraser on the British right. 
Morgan's riflemen pressed on through the woods and struck the left of 
the British centre. Gates, from his headquarters, had sent forward three 
New Hampshire battalions. It is stated that as many as nine regiments 
were directed by Arnold. At 3.40 p. m. the battle became general and 
raged for three hours or more. The contest was severe for the posses- 
sion of the clearing known as Freeman's Farm. The Americans had no 
artillery and seized the British guns several times. They could not bring 
them off, nor turn them in their own favor, having no lintstocks. Bur- 
goyne's centre was hammered hard, the Sid regiment being nearly anni- 



150 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

charged on the Occasion & three Cheers given — the 
Indians bro'. in two Tories painted like themselves — 
who were upon Gentry with the Enemy, Genl Gates 
delivered them up to their handling, they drove them 
shouting & whooping thro the Street — the number of 
killed & wounded three hundred eighteen in the late 
Action — Received Letters from Cap'. Batchelder 
& Cousin Phebe pr Post — 

22. Turned out at three this morning Struck Tents & 

loaded Baggage — about noon pitched them again — 
Indians bro'. in two regular Prisoners & one Scalp — 
paraded thro the road with them — Wrote Home pr 
Post N? 23 not numbred — To Cap* Batchelder Re^ 
Fish & the Printer — rained P. M. 

23. Alarmed by discharge of severl Cannon in the 

Enemy's Camp — dined at Headquarters — Indians 
brol in Seven Tories — 



hilated. Morgan's riflemen, posted in trees, made sad havoc among the 
opposing officers. Generally the British could not use their favorite 
weapon, the bayonet. When the centre was about exhausted, Reidesel, 
moving to the sound of the guns from the left, poured a heavy fire into 
the right flank of the Americans attacking the centre. The attacking 
troops staggered, and the British drove them from the field by a well- 
directed charge of bayonets. Fraser and Breyman wished to pursue and 
follow up the advantage, but were recalled by Burgoyne's positive order. 
He was much censured by both parties for this act. It was nearly dark, 
and the movement could not have made much difference to the cam- 
paign, but it would have changed the aspect of this engagement some- 
what. Burgoyne claimed the victory, which all authorities have since 
denied him. The British loss was estimated at 500 to 600, and the 
American at about 320. The results were greater than could be compre- 
hended in any single action. The morale of both armies was changed. 
There was no lack of courage on either side, but Burgoyne's force in- 
cluded the flower of European troops. Stedman (American War, I., 323) 
fairly states his opponent's case. " No solid advantages resulted to the 
" British troops from this encounter. The conduct of the enemy con- 
" vinced everyone that they were able to sustain an attack in open plains 
"with the intrepidity, the spirit, and the coolness of veterans. For four 
"hours they maintained a contest hand to hand." 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I5I 

24. Orders to strike Tents & load Baggage at Ten °Clock 

this morning occasioned by Deserters, who say the 
Enemy are coming on — Indians bro^. in three Tories 
— nothing of Consequence happened — Good news 
from the Southard that Howe had lost 3000 in the 
late Action we 1000 &c — Genl Lincoln's Troops came 
in — Maletia from Berkshire Count came up — Army 
in high Spirits — 

25. Indians bro'. in two Tories — rained most of the P. M — 
26.-' The Indians bro*. in eleven Prisoners, Hessians & 

Tories, two of our own men & two Scalps — Maletia 
come in fast — 

27. One Deserter & one of our men from the Enemy — 
Cool — 

Sunday 28. This morning at ten "Clock the Camp was 
alarmed by the discharge of a Cannon in the Enemy's 
Camp — men at their Alarm Posts all Day — Dr. Jones 
& Mr. Shaw ; receiv"? Letter from Home, Mr. Herrick 



1 Gates was a fair soldier, but one of the meanest of men. On the 26th 
he issued his congratulatory order ..." the General has not been 
" properly at leisure to return his grateful thanks to Gen.- Poor's & Gen. 
" Learned's Brigades, to the regiment of riflemen and to Colo Marshall's 
"regiment for their valiant behaviour in the action of the 19th inst." 
(Digby's Journal, p. 283.) No mention of Morgan, who had borne the 
brunt of the fray, nor of Arnold, who was heroic under fire, though his 
generalship was criticised. Gates had studied for a week how to mortify 
these men, whom he hated. 



Anburey's statement (Travels in America, I., 418) is interesting. " The 
" courage snd obstinacy with which the Americans fought, were the as- 
" tonishment of every one, and we now become fully convinced, they are 
"not that contemptible enemy we had hitherto imagined them, incapable 
" of standing a regular engagement, and that they would only fight be- 
" hind strong and powerful works." 

It was proven that the superior training, discipline and organization of 
the British army could be fairly met and sometimes overcome by the 
better intelligence, marksmanship and adaptability of the Americans. 



152 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

& Mrs. Francis by them with my Horse — from Mr. 
Foster & Brother David by Post, wrote to them by 
Him— 

29. This morning two Hessian Sergeants one Drumers & 

a private — Six Hessians made Prisoners & a number 
of Horses — fair Day — 

30. This Day Six Canadians made Prisoners & one Regular 

— William Dodge retaken — several Horses bro'. in — 
dined at Col? Brooks's 
October i. two Hessian Deserters this morning — Rev4 Mr. 
Jones, Col? Stone &c dined with me — fair Day — 

2. This morning two Hessian Deserters came in — Set off 

for Albany about Ten, dined at the new City got into 
town Sunset — warm Day — - 

3. Receiv? of the Paymaster Gen'. 3 1 2 Dollars & half — drew 

from the Continental Store 5 yds of Black Broad 
Cloth Rt y Si }{ Dollars pr y^ , 3 D? Serget at one 
D" 2 Sticks Mohair 2? , 2 oz: thread 2^ — Wrote 
Home N? 24. to Mr. Herrick & Mrs Francis by Mr. 
Shaw, sent Home 200 Dollars — fifty Prisoners bro'. in 
to town taken near Surratoga among whom was one 
Cap'. , two Lieut'! , one Ensign — 

4. Returned to Camp : dined at new City — two Deserters 

came in. 
Sunday October 5. Divine Service at 4 °Clock P. M, 
Matt 5. 32 this Day Six Hessian Deserters came in 
& four of our men made their escape — 
6. WVote Home N? 25 pr Post to Mr Foster & Brother 
Moses — this P. M. a Skirmish between Scouting par- 
ties a reinforcement went out from Gen'. Glovers ^ 
Brigade drove the Enemy into their Lines killed three 



1 Brigadier General John Glover of Salem, Mass., was little, but strong, 
a good soldier and general. One of the best organizers and disciplina- 
rians in the Continental line. Washington sent him with his brigade to 
the Northern army, when in its direst needs, after the retreat from 
Ticonderoga. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 153 

or four/ we had four wounded — the remainder of 
Genl Lincoln s party came to Camp — fair Day — eight 
Deserters four of our own men — 

7. This afternoon about two °Clock, the Camp alarmed, 

repair to their Alarm Posts — the Enemy advanced on 
our left ^ — Col? Scammels & Hales Reg? were sent 
out to observe their Motions & attack them, a Scat- 
tering fire began a little before four oClock, at half 
after four it came on very heavy & lasted till Dark — 
our Troops drove them ^ of a Mile, pursued to their 
Encampment & took possession of one of the Hessian 
Camp with all its Tents, Baggage 

8. Little happened today, but loose firing— thirty De- 

serters came in — I went over the Ground where the 
Battle was, found a number of the dead Stript — 



1 This skirmish is reported by Digby (p. 286) : " I went out on a large 
"forage for the army, and took some hay near their camp. On our re- 
"turn we heard a heavy fire and made all the haste possible with the 
"forage. It was occasioned by some of our rangers falling in with 
"theirs; our loss was trifling." 

- History labors long in getting itself recorded. The battle of Behmus' 
Heights is a misnomer. The Heights were fully one mile and a quarter 
south of the actual battle-ground (Stone, Burgoyne's campaign, p. 71) and 
were the headquarters of Gates. The second battle of Stillwater, which 
will be known always as Behmus' Heights, was begun 225 rods southwest 
of Freeman's Farm and ended on the site of the first action. The 
British had thrown up half-moon redoubts to secure the Freeman clear- 
ing, their citadel and centre. A straggling entrenchment ran eastward 
almost to the Hudson, where the most of the artillery was strongly 
posted. It was a strong position and Gates was shrewd enough not to 
attack it. 

Burgoyne had to do something, and after serious councils he deter- 
mined to make a strong reconnaissance and turn the American left, if 
possible. Riedesel and Fraser had advised — Phillips withholding 
opinion — an immediate retreat. Burgoyne was to decide the main ques- 
tion after trying the fighting. He could muster only 1500 men and pro- 
tect his camp properly. He took 700 of Fraser's, 300 of Breyman's, and 
500 of Riedesel's, with eight guns and two howitzers. The advance was in 
three columns; Fraser commanded the right, which was swinging around 



154 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Genl Lincoln badly wounded in the Leg — both bones 
bro'. to pieces — eight field pieces & two ammunition 
Wagons were bro'. in last Night — 

the number of our killed g 

wounded their killed 9 

wounded Prisoners ^ 

9. This morning about forty Deserters came in who 
inform that the Enemy left their Encampment be- 
tween twelve °Clock & Day — we soon took posses- 
sion of it — & found a number of Hospital Tents & a 
large Barn with 340 wounded/ DoctI! & Nurses &c 
— some provisions, Arms &c — our Carpenters went 
forward to repair Bridges, began to rain about Ten 
°Clock last till Evening — Wrote Home N° 26 by Mr 
Cleaveland — 

1 Facsimile of Burgoyne's letter surrendering this hospital may be seen 
Nar. and Crit. America, VI., 310. 



to get the advantage of Gates. Phillips and Riedesel were in the centre, 
but Burgoyne led here in person. Wilkinson, the chief of staff, was sent 
by Gates within 60 rods of the British line. Hearing his report. Gates 
said, "Order on Morgan to begin the game." Morgan asked to be al- 
lowed to move around toward a ridge in the woods, thus outdoing the 
enemy's flanking movement. He did this very skilfully. Meanwhile 
Poor and Learned, with the New York and New Hampshire troops> 
marched straight against the grenadiers under Aokland, and the artillery, 
under Williams, was posted on a rising slope. They got in on the flanks 
of the grenadiers, and the struggle was desperate. One field-piece was 
taken and retaken five times. In a space of 12 to 15 yards square lay 
eighteen grenadiers, dead or dying. Ackland was wounded in both legs 
and left on the field. This was Poor's attack, as Learned was bearing 
toward the centre where were the Germans. 

Morgan became effective at the same moment. He crus-hed Eraser's 
flankers like an eggshell, and pressed hard on the right of his line. 
Major Dearborn, with two New England regiments, attacking between 
Poor and Morgan, firing vigorously, broke Eraser's front. Balcarres ral- 
lied tliese fleeing troops and brought them into action again, under shel- 
ter of a fence in the rear. The Americans then attacked Specht with his 
300 Germans in the centre. Eraser saw that the centre was being driven 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I55 

10. Violent wind & rain most of the Night — orders this 
morng for all to ready to march with 3 Days provi- 
sions — Gen'. Nixon & Learned s Brigades march about 
nine oClock, Glovers at Eleven Poors ours at one 
P. M. as we passed, we found a great number of 
Horses, dead. Carts & Waggons broke one left with 
15 Barrells of powder, Tents & poles some burnt, 
various other articles Strewed by the way — arrived at 
Surratoga Sun an Hour & ^ high — found Genl 
Schuylers Buildings & the Barracks all on fire, the 
Enemy on that side the little River — a number of 
Cannon Shot exchanged, Genl Fellows ^ prevented 
them passing the River ^ & to took their Boats loaded 

2 John Fellows of Pomfret, Conn., led a regiment of minute men to 
Boston immediately after Lexington. He was now a brigadier-general 
of militia. 

3 This stream, called the "little river" on the nth, was the Fishkill. 
Schuyler's house was on the east side of the Albany road and south of 
the river, where the road crosses the stream. 



and took ground with the 24th regiment westward of the Freeman tri- 
lateral of redoubts. He had hardly established his line, when Tim 
Murphy's bullet gave his mortal wound. The loss of this gallant general 
disheartened the British, and Ten Broeck's arrival with the New York 
militia completed the defeat. Burgoyne abandoned his guns, excepting 
two howitzers, and ordered his troops mto the safe ground of the 
redoubts. According to Hitchcock, the heavy firing began at half-past 
four; the work was over in fifty-two minutes. 

Arnold becomes conspicuous after the retreat into the redoubts, which 
he attacked at one and another part. He had been removed by Gates, 
but appeared in the thickest of the fray. His old troops followed him in 
his reckless charges, sometimes against the orders of their proper com- 
manders. Apparently he was either making mischief or winning victory, 
without discrimination. It is impossible to decide exactly what he did. 
Some accounts charge him with intoxication by liquor or opium; cer- 
tainly his insane passion made him drunk. The inevitable myths of 
battle have accumulated about his wild doings, in the shades of this 
memorable evening. There was a tendency, as the years went on, to 
make his figure whiter and more brilliant at Saratoga, in order to bring 



156 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

with pork — our & Poors Brigade filed off to the left & 
camped on the heights. 

II. This morning a guard was taken from the Enemy con- 
sisting of a Surgeon's Mate, Lieut & 36 privates 8 or 
ten afterward ; some deserters — a moderate canonade 
& Scattering Musketry all Day — Genl Poors, Pater- 
sons & Learned s Brigades & the Riflemen pass the 
little River ^ about half a Mile above the Bridge & ex- 
tend upon the left flank of the Enemy within about 
half a Mile of their Lines — 

Sunday October 12. A Slow Canonade most of the Day — 
a Flag sent into the Enemy I suppose demanding a 
Surrender, Receiv? Letter from Rev^ Ward p^ Post 
from Home & Rev? Foster — 

13. Wrote Home & to Cap'. Batchelder p^ Post. The 
Tents & Baggage came to us this Day — Some Can- 
nonading — 28 Prisoners taken — 

^ Burgoyne's position was on the north side of the Fishkill, about 
three quarters of a mile above (i. e., southwestward from) the point where 
it empties into the Hudson. The Albany road ran between the British 
and the Hudson. The reader will perceive that this strong column under 
Poor outflanked Burgoyne and cut off his line of retreat. Our forces had 
possession of the Battenkill on the loth. This stream ran into the Hud- 
son on the opposite side, about a mile north of the Fishkill. 



out his hellish treason at West Point in blacker and more fiendish tints. 

Breyman, with his Brunswick men, was holding their right, having a 
breastwork of rails. Learned drove out the Canadians posted between 
Breyman and the redoubts. The brave German was killed and the left 
of his position was surrounded. Virtually the key of the British position 
was lost. Darkness stopped the Americans, but Burgoyne evacuated be- 
fore daybreak on the 8th, beginning his hopeless retreat. 

I have generally followed the spirited accounts of Stone and Mrs. 
Walworth. Kingsford, VI., 259, puts the total British loss at 600. 
Cullum (Nar. and Crit. America, VI., 309) puts the American loss at 50 
killed and 150 wounded. 

The whole series of movements and encounters, from September 19th 
to October 7th, are known as the battle of Saratoga. They were the 
failure of Burgoyne to break his enemy's line, or to beat him in the open 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 157 

An Account of the Prisoners &c of Oct! 7. 
3 C0I25 one died Since — Sir Francis Clark ^ Aid de 
Camp to Genl Burgoyne — Major Sir Thomas Ack- 
lin^ Speaker of the House of Commons — i Major — 
M^ Mooneye A. Q. M. G.— 18 Ofificers of different 
ranks — 159 Rank & file — 100 wounded bro^. in — their 
dead in the field 70 — our killed, wounded & missing 
not exceeding 150 — Gen: Frazier * died the night fol- 
lowing the Battle of the wounds He receiv? 

1 Sir Francis Carr Clarke, also private secretary to Burgoyne (see 
Hadden, p. 145), was an excellent officer. According to Wilkinson, Gates 
argued fiercely with his wounded guest — lying on the general's own bed 
— on the merits of the American cause. Gates lost temper and in an- 
other room asked if Wilkinson " had ever heard so impudent a son of a 
b — h." Sir Francis was most tenderly treated. 

2 Our diarist mistakes the son for the father. Major John Dyke Ack- 
land, our prisoner, was the son of Sir Thomas. A rough, blunt and gal- 
lant soldier, devotedly loved by his charming wife. Lady Harriet Ackland. 
Much to Burgoyne's astonishment, she demanded a passage through the 
lines, and took part in her husband's captivity. 

3 John Money, captain in 9th foot, and deputy quartermaster-general. 

* Simon Fraser, of the Scottish house of Lovatt, was a brigadier- 
general. Perhaps the best officer under Burgoyne, and there were many 
good ones in that little army. Brave, energetic, full of resource, he took 
a conspicuous part in every action. Digby says (Journal, p. 288) "when 
" Burgoyne saw him fall, he seemed then to feel in the highest degree our 
"disagreeable situation." His burial, under the enemy's guns, was quite 
as pathetic as that of Sir John Moore a generation later. Stone (Bur- 
goyne Ballads, p. 290) notices Tim Murphy, one of Morgan's best shots, 
who killed Fraser. It was said to be by Arnold's especial direction. 
Murphy was a daring soldier and believed in Benedict Arnold, claiming 
that he was within five feet of him when the mad Arnold went over the 
British fortifications at Behmus' Heights. 

field. Saratoga decided the American Revolution, and is properly 
classed by Creasy as one of "the fifteen decisive battles of the world." 

Gates has been criticized with and without reason. They blamed him 
for cowardice because he was not at the front in this action. The 
charges of lack of courage are probably groundless. Often generals 



158 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

14. This morning Gen: Burgoyne sent in a Frag requesting 

leave to send a field Officer in for a Conference on a 
subject of great Consequence — about ten °Clock 
Major Kingston ^ Adj'. Gen: came in & Stayed an 
Hour & half — Gen: Gates offers Terms ^ — no firing 
this Day — fine Day— 

15. This Day Spent in Setling Terms of Accommodation. 

The Treaty completed except signing — 

16. This morning Gen: Burgoyne sent a Letter to Gen: 

Gates to inform Him that he had been informed He 
had sent off Several detachments from his Army 
whereby the Treated was Violated ; & beg that two 
of his Officers might go thro our Camp to Satisfy 
Him ; the Gen: assured Him to the contra — after 
many interviews being had both were agreed, the 
Articles signed & they to parade their Arms to- 
morrow at Ten °Clock. 

^ Robert Kingston was lieutenant-colonel in the army and chief of staff 
under Burgoyne. Since Gierke's death he had been private secretary- 
" Appeared to be about forty ; he was a well formed, ruddy, handsome 
" man, and expatiated with taste on the beautiful scenery of the Hudson's 
"river." (Rogers' note, Hadden, p. 63.) 

^ Kingston was blindfolded by Wilkinson after crossing on the sleepers 
of the broken bridge across the Fishkill, and conducted into the pres- 
ence of Gates. He read his communication to the general, who handed 
him a paper, saying, " There, sir, are the ter?ns on which General Bur- 
goyne must surrender.'''' Kingston was astonished, and asked that the 
general would send the terms by his own officer. He declined, and re- 
marked, ^^ that as he had brought the message, he ought to take back the 
answer.'''' Kingston made three visits that day. 

know not what to do next, when bystanders think they are cowardly. 
The crowning day at Behmus' was not a pitched battle deliberately 
planned by the American general. It was a series of bloody struggles in 
woods and blind clearings, developed from the British movements. Our 
staff organization has always been wretched, and very likely Gates con- 
trolled the action best from a headquarters, where he could be found. 
War, after all, is chiefly in the doing. Gates made few mistakes and 
profited by the many of Burgoyne. He did the work, and bagged a fine 
British army. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 159 

17. This is the important Day in Burgoyne & his Army ^ 
marched out of their Camp with fife & Drum at half 
past ten, on the fiat near the old Fort at Sarratoga, 
the British Troops locked their Arms, the Germans 
grounded theirs^ — Gen: Burgoyne came over at 
twelve — the began to pass the River about two & 
continued till near Sunset, our Army paraded by the 
Road — I went over their Camp, find Lines very 
Slender, find much mischief done to Guns, Drums &c 
— counted Cannon Howitzers Mortars a vast number 
of fine Guns Baggage & Ammunition Waggons, some 
Tents, Horses & Cattle & many other things — The 
number of the Enemy who marched out, besides 
women and Children, five thousand two hundred — the 
whole was conducted with great Order & decency & 
ou'. to inspire every Soul with Sincere Gratitude ! ^ fair 
Day, Wrote Home to Rev? Ward pi Waistcot Genl 



1 Digby heads his journal (p. 317), "A day famous in the annals of 
America." (p. 320) " As to my own feelings, I cannot express them. Tears 
" (though unmanly) forced their way, and, if alone, I could have burst 
" to give myself vent. I never shall forget the appearance of their troops 
"on our marching past them; a dead silence universally reigned through 
"their numerous columns, and even then, they seemed struck with our 
situation and dare scarce lift up their eyes to view British troops in 
" such a situation. I must say their decent behaviour during the time (to 
"us so greatly fallen) merritted the utmost approbation and praise." 

^ Kingsford, VI., 280, gives the number surrendered by Burgoyne as 
4783. The regular returns were not published, but he claims to have 
drawn these figures from official papers. Compare estimate in the 
Diary, October 20th. 

^ The articles at first headed " Capitulation " were changed to " Con- 
vention " to save Burgoyne's pride. His critics laughed at this euphuism 
and doggerel verses in London treated the whole American campaign as 
etiquette. 

"Of Saratoga's dreadful plain — 
"An army ruined — why complain? 
" To pile their arms as they were let, 
" Sure they came off with etiquette. 



l60 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Glovers & Nixons Brigades moved down a few Miles, 
ours come over to the C?^ 

1 8. This morning the Army order4 order to strike Tents & 
march down, left the ground at Ten A. M. marched 
to Stillwater with^ halting, stopped till 4 P. M. movd 
on Reached half Moon at nine in the Evening, 
Genl Glovers Brigade passing the River — ours got 
over at two — I came down to the point with the 
Teams. 

Sunday October 19. Lodged at half Moon point without 
Cover — rose at Day break pass the Sprouts, arrived 
at Albany at Nine °Clock, the Troops pushed on with 
great dispatch ; & came into the City this forenoon — 
& encamp on the heights — attended Sermon at 
M^ Boons's [indistinct] p'l Judges 7 C? warm & 
pleasant — 

20. This morning M^ Smith, Evans & myself applied to 
Gen: Gates to have a Sermon on the occasion of the 
great Success of the Troops — appointed Service to 
be on Wednesday at 3 °Clock P. M. — obtained an 
Account of the number of the Prisoners taken by 
Capitulation the 17th Inst 



" Cries Burgoyne, ' They may be reliev'd ; 

" T/ta^ army still may be retriev'd, 

" To see the King if I be let,' 

" No, sir ! 'Tis not the etiquette." 

It is now known through Shelburne's Revelations that the prime cause 
of Burgoyne's failure was in the blundering negligence of Germaine, in 
not promptly sending Howe his orders to cooperate with the expedition 
from Canada. 

England has often undergone greater disasters, but hardly any blow 
ever more affected her pride. That a fine army of the very best British 
and German troops should squarely surrender to rebels, — unrecognized, 
despised, hated rebels, with arms in their hands, — this was something 
John Bull never contemplated, when he cheerily began taxation without 
representation. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. l6l 

Viz British 2442 Gen^ Burgoyne 

German 2198 Maj Phillips^ 
Canadian & Tories 1200 Br*? Hambeton 



Total 5840 M. ReideseP 
besides Women & Children which were many — vis- 
ited the Hospital with My Plumb found it in good 
order, but Scarcity of Surgeons — An Account of the 
Ordnance taken in the Nothern department — 
Bennington 5 Cannon 
Fort Schuyler 2 D? 

4 Royals 5 inch 

Beamus's he§'^ 8 Cannon 
taken with the Army at Saratoga two 24 pounders 

two 12 D? 
twelve 6 D? 
four 3 D? 
five Royal Howitzers, two eight inch D? 
5000 Stand of Arms — large number of Musket Cart- 
ridges, travelling Forges Ammunition Waggons — 

21. This Day Ensign Ramdy buried with honors of war — 

receive Letter from M". Foster — Wrote Home & to 
Cap'. Batchelder p^ Post — Cool & Rainy — 

22. Nothing material to Day Cool & windy — visited Hos- 

pital with Mr. Plumb — 

23. Settled the Mess account with Col? Littlefield & Major 

Lithgow, due to them ^5: 14^:8'^. Genl Poors Bri- 
gade marched down the River — Wrote Home by 
Adjutant Francis. — 

24. Col? Storer buried with the honors of War — Gen'. War- 

1 Major-General William Phillips was Burgoyne's second in command 
and a member of Parliament. Had had large experience in Europe, 
commanding the artillery with distinction at the battle of Minden. 

2 Major-General Baron de Riedesel, of an old and wealthy baronial 
family, commanded the German contingent. His beautiful wife shared 
his captivity. Her sprightly memoirs have been very popular, affording 
the most interesting incidents of the campaign. 



l62 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

ners ^ Brigade of Maletia marched for the Southard 

— fair Day — 
25. Genl Learneds Brigade marched, paid M^ Shepard 

Taylor ten dollars 81 }( & two & half yl^^ of Canvass, 

for making my Cloaths &c 
Sunday 26. Preached in the presbeterian meeting House in 

Albany from Ps. 126, i, 2, 3. Mr Evans pl^ in the 

afternoon — rained all last Night — 

27. This Day Genl Glover set off for Boston with Genl 

Burgoyne & the other Captive Genii &c — Genl Gates 
granted me leave of absence for three months — ob- 
tained a warrant to draw my Ration Money to the 
26^ Inst: receive of the Paymaster Gen: 159 Dollars 
for Rations — drew from the State Store two Shirts 
3 Doll & j4 each — one pair of fulled Stockings from 
Continl Store a Doll: & 1/3 — Wrote for Major Lith- 
gow to his Brother Capl Saml Howard at Boston — 
rained all Day — 

28. A heavy rain all last Night & this Day — the Troops 

ordered into Houses in the City, the Camp being all 
afloat. — 

29. Rain ceased last Night: began again at i °Clock this 

afternoon — receiv? Six Dollars of Ml Hodgson for my 
Gun — took a certificate of Col? Trumbal of my pay 
receiv? to i Octy & Rations to the 26}^ 

30. Left Albany at }4 past eight Stop*? at Mickeies 11 

Miles New Eliz^'^ton — dined at Hammonds Phillipston 
7 miles — reached Duglass's in New Lebanon at half 
past five, 8 Miles — roads extreme bad, the Bridges 
Carried off by the late delugeing Rain: Cool & 
pleasant — 

31. Lodged at Duglass's — dined at Parmerleys in Rich- 

mond 8 miles — oated at Eastons in Pittsfield 7 miles 
— at dusk reached Plumbs in Hertwood 7 miles — Snow 
on top of the Mountain — Cool — 

^ Seth Warner, of Bennington, at which place he participated in the 
victory over the British. He was an active and vigorous officer. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 163 

November i. Lodged at Plumbs in Washington — Break- 
fasted at Bushes in Becket — roads extreme bad — 
dined at Taggets in Blandford — reached Sackets at 
the foot of the Mountain. 

Sunday 2. Lodged at Sackets — breakfasted at West- 
field arrived at Rev^i Lothrops 11 "Clock p'A for 
Him P. M. Ps: 126. fair Day— 

3. Passed the River 9 °Clock dined at Bliss's Wilbraham, 

overtook Genl Burgoyne in Palmer ; reached Brook- 
field at Sunset — 

4. Lodged at my Mothers — rode in Company with Bur- 

goyne & his Retinue to Worcester — dined there — the 
Division of Germans in Town — reached Rev? Whit- 
neys Northboro at Evening — fair & pleasant — 

5. Lodged at Rev? Whitney's ^ last Night ; reached 

M^ Stone half past Six — 

6. Reached Home at 12 "Clock, a N. E Storm — 



NOTE. 

The diary records the incidents of his life at home 
until December 31st. It is interleaved in an almanac pub- 
lished by Daniel George at Massachusetts Bay. 

The reader will remember that Mr. Hitchcock sent home 
his journal. Perhaps if that document had been preserved we 
should have had a more full account of his impressions of the 
campaign than the diurnal notes have given us. 

The following diaries for portions of the years 1779 and 
1780 were recorded on ordinary note-books. 

Stone's History of Beverly (pp. 275, 276) contains two 
letters dated at Valley Forge, May 15, 1778, and Camp Green- 
wich, July 23, 1778, written to his intimate friend, Captain 

1 Rev. Peter Whitney, author of a History of Worcester County. Our 
chaplain had seen service in the half year since he wen out from his 
home a simple minister. Now he came fresh from the triumphs of his 
companions in arms. And in the same train were King George's generals 
made captive and escorted by rebel victors. 



164 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Josiah Batchelder, Jr., who was in the quartermaster's depart- 
ment. Both letters dwell on the patience of the army under 
its sufferings. There are also two letters from West Point 
(pp. 277-280) dated July 13 and October 12, 1779. The first 
is very gloomy, and we cite : " No period of the controversy 
"has appeared to me more critical and alarming than the 
" present. The country is asleep, to appearance, totally inat- 
"tentive to what ought to be their grand object — defence. 
"The currency is on the eve of destruction." 



1779 

April yih Set out this morning early for Camp — The roads 
soon became dry & fine passing — the weather very 
warm — preached on the Sabb. for the Rev? Mr. 
Breck ^ Springfield — joined company with Col? Shep- 
ard ^ & Major Cogswell,^ came thro Westfield, Syms- 
bury &c. joined my Brigade at West Point 

17. Found them in fine health & Spirits — late Learned's 
Brigade here also — put up at headq^ — sent my Horse 
to D^ Van Wick's for keeping — cool & windy today — 

Sunday 18. This day very cold & high wind— so that we 
could not have service— find the living much more 
comfortable than I expected — sent a line home by 
D^ Scott— 



1 Robert Breck was settled at Springfield in 1736, and there was a 
smart controversy over his theological opinions before the parish became 
quiet. He was a man of great learning. 

2 William Shepard, colonel 4th Massachusetts regiment, a brave and 
efficient officer, who participated in twenty-two engagements during the 
Revolution. In the Shays Rebellion he served as brigadier-general and 
saved the arsenal at Springfield. 

8 Thomas Cogswell of Haverhill, Mass., was a captain at Bunker Hill, 
He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, 15th Massachusetts regiment. 
November 26, 1779. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 165 

19. The weather abates some — Intelligence to Day from 

Genl McDougal ^ that the Enemy are leaving the east 
end of long Island & are moving toward N. York — 
apprehensive yy may attact this place, he orders the 
works to go on with all dispatch — went up to Forts 
Putnam '" & Web — the former appears to be a very 
strong hold — situated on a high rocky point, over- 
toped, indeed by some Mountains in the rear difficult 
of access, but in front not assailable contains a maga- 
zine finished, two bomb-proofs one completed — a 
large bomb-proof in fort Arnold a considerable part of 
it nearly completed — 

20. This day the chain '^ was extended across the River ; tis 

secured at each end by large pieres — size is enormous 
— Wrote home by Mr. Wescot sent two 60 Doll bills 
weather more comfortable. — 

21. This day the Rev? Mr. Mason left the Garrison — I 

took possession of his Room — D^ Thomas brings an 
account from Philadelphia that several Dutch Vessels 
had arrived there — his account of high prices from 
thence exceed any this way & further east — fine 
Day— 

22. This day they began to add to the thickness of the par- 

apet in the Bastions of Fort Arnold that looks down 
the River — pleasant weather. — 

23. Gen'. Orders from Genl Washington for the whole 

Army to hold y™^ in y^ utmost readiness for moving 
at y^ shortest notice — y' no officer have a chest on 
any pretence — as the Portmantuas are given them by 

1 Alexander McDougall, major-general in the army, was an efficient 
officer. He superintended the difficult embarkation of the troops after 
the defeat at Long Island. He took command of the posts on the Hud 
son March 16, 1778, and with Kosciuszko built the fortifications at the 
Highlands. 

2 Maps of the Hudson and plans of the fortifications may be consulted 
Nar. and Crit. America, VI., 451-459- 

3 Nar. and Crit. America, VI., 324- 



l66 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Congress/ high south wind. — receiv^ letter from 
Major Hull commanding at the lines — 

24. Accounts today from Boston of several very valuable 
Ships taken off Georgia by the continental Frigates. — 

Sunday 25. Divine service at eleven oClock, ours & late 
Learneds ^ Brigades attended pr^ Matt: 6. 33 — dined 
with Col? Kosciuszko ^ — Col? Marshall & Cap! 
Greenleaf came to camp, Lieu'. Goodridge & Ensign 
Shaw — receiv? Letters from home, the account of 
2411^ confirmed — an exceeding fine day. — baptized 
child of Richard Northover a Soldier of the Train, by 
the name of Mary — 

26. Pleasant weather — 

27. This afternoon I went down to Fort Mongumery in the 

barge with Col! Baily & &c — surveyed the ruins of 
that miserable old Fort, returned to Robinson's Farm, 
a beautiful house & situation, but much damaged 
done it by the Virginia? encamping there last fall, 
drank Tea with Mr. Dikeman who lives on the farm ; 
reached home at dusk after a very agreeable tour — 
fair & pleasant, but somewhat dry. 

28. This morning fell a very refreshing shower of rain, 

about 2 hours long — cleared off fair & pleasant — 
P. M. went over to see the ruins of fort Constitution 
tis situated on our Island opposite West point — 
Cap! Marshall's company only upon it. — 

29. Major Furnald, D^ Wingate & I went over to M! 

Mandevilles & drank Tea — this appears to be a very 

1 If Congress had been able to control the abuses of officers' baggage, 
it might possibly have grappled with the Continental currency. 

- General Learned was in poor health and obliged to retire from the 
army. 

8 Tadeuz Kosciuszko, a Polish patriot and one of the most romantic 
characters of the Revolution, Recommended by Franklin, Washington 
asked him what he could do. " Try me," was the reply of genius. He 
planned the encampment at Behmus' Heights, where Gates made his 
stand, and the fortifications at West Point. The cadets properly showed 
their gratitude by placing a fine monument there. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 167 

agreeable Family ; possessed with the polite & more 

important accomplishments. 
30. Violent storm of snow & rain last night, continued till 

noon — then cleared away, wind continued high the 

flag staff blew down in the gale — dined with Col? 

Kosciuszko ^ — sat for miniature portrait — 
May I. May opens fair & pleasant — 
Sunday 2. A fine shower this morning — cleared off about 

9 °Clock very warm & pleasant — divine service at 

II oClock Ps : 18. 23. — dined at headquarters. — 

3. The Regiments pass"? muster — drank Tea at Col? Jac- 

son's.^ 

4. In the course of the last night came up a tempest of 

lightning lasted a considerable time almost incessant 
— attended with shower of rain — the morning opened 
fine & pleasant. Accounts from Gen'. M? Dougal's — 
that a British fleet, destination not known, was 
stranded on the Coast of France — its contents 7000 
men, most perished — the rest fell into the hands of 
the French. — drank Tea at Col? Mellor's. — • 

5. Wind very high at N. W. married Serg'. Bates and Mrs 

Lucy Gun ^ — 

6. This day observed as a publick fast thro y^ united 

States — divine service at eleven °Clock, the garrison 
generally out — pr<^ Joshua 7. 13. — dined at head 
quarters Mr. Mandeville & Family over — news from 
the southard of Genl Lincoln's defeating y^ enemy & 
taking 500 — very high wind — cool. — 

7. Wind continues high at N. W. 

8. Pleasant, today. — 

lAs indicated above, Chaplain Hitchcock made himself agreeable 
everywhere. Otherwise he would not have been dining with Kosciuszko, 
and we shall meet him often at the Mandevilles. 

2 Michael Jackson of Newton, Mass., colonel 8th Massachusetts regi- 
ment of the Continental line. 

3 We have had a christening already, and we shall be surprised by the 
marriages often made by the enlisted men. 



l68 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Sunday 9. Divine service today at 11 °Clock — pr^ Ps : 
119. 165. D^ Hall was here, their Brigade, Poor's 
about marching to the westward — Baptized Lydda, 
the daughter of George Wilson and Letty his wife, of 
Cap'. Buckland's company, train — wind breazd up 
again about noon — baptized, Adaulph, Son of John 
Degrove of the above company — 

10. Dined at Col? Kosciuszko, went with him Col? Baily ^ 

&c to M^ Dickman's, drank Tea — 

11. Wrote home by M^ Poland, Col! Marshall Kosciuszko 

& Meller dined with me this day — very warm &, for 
the season, dry. 

12. This day Col? Littlefield came to camp — receiv4 a letter 

from home, dated April 30II? — it began to rain gently 
toward night, continued the evening — 

13. Steady rain all night, continued the whole day — 

14. Dined with Col? Kosciuszko — fair day — My Avery 

came here. 

15. Wrote home today, by Col? Carlton, to Rev? Willard & 

Mr Ward — Reports that a large detachment of Trans- 
ports left N. York very lately, supposed bound to 
Georgia — tis said they have taken down a number of 
houses in the city — An expedition ags'. the western 
Indians seems now to be certain, one division to go 
by way of the Mohawk River, under command of 
Brigy Genl Clinton — another by the Susquahannah, 
under command of Brig^ Genl Maxwell — a third by 
fort Pitt, on the Ohio, under Brigdy Hurd — the whole 
to be under command of Genl Sullivan '^ — much is to 
be expected from the Zeal & Intrepidity of those 
Gallant Officers & the brave & hardy Soldiers who 
are selected for the purpose. 

^ John Bailey of Hanover, Mass., colonel 2d Massachusetts regiment, 
Continental line. He did good service against Burgoyne, and was a 
brave and faithful officer. 

-John Sullivan of Durham, N. H. Major-general in the army; held 
many important commands. This expedition against the Six Nations 
was thoroughly successful. Poor's brigade participated. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D, 169 

Sunday i6. Divine service at ii °Clock Mr Avery pr<? 
Jn? 3. 33. fine clay — a court of examination sat today 
upon the suspected persons bro'. into camp from the 
Clove 17 in number, two of the worst having made 
their escape — one James Allen who was lately 
wounded in the leg with a party of Robbers^ who 
made their escape, he was left behind & is one of the 
above number, says, that they were lately from N. 
York & that Genl Clinton & Mr Matthews Mayor of 
the city, gives every encouragement to their robberies, 
rewarding every considerable feat in that way, & that 
the Mayor had offered them a large reward to burnt 
Governor Clintons & Livingston's houses & take 
their persons which they had promised to effect in 
two months — he mentions several robberies which 
have been committed & by whom, & where some of 
the articles were hid in the woods, which have been 
found according to his description, which renders his 
other accounts more credible — two of them were 
hired, by Clinton, to cross the country up to Brant & 
Butler to give intelligence, & call upon them to stir 
up all the Indians & Tories possible to make what- 
ever inroads they could on the frontiers, & make 
their way down as far as possible into the country, in 
three divisions all to meet at or near Esopus — to draw 
the attention of the people that way, while the Tory 
refugees made depredations from York up this way 
— O Clinton ^ how art thou fallen, from commanding 
an Army of Britons, to be the ringleader of a banditti 

1 These were probably " Cowboys," semi-organized British marauders, 
who oppressed the region between the two armies. They were opposed 
by American bands, who were called " Skinners." The names indicate 
the unlovely character of their vocation. 

2 Sir Henry Clinton succeeded Howe as commander-in-chief of the 
British forces in January, 1778. He was not eminent, but few of his com- 
rades were. Lord North, remarking on the qualities of the generals they 
were sending to this country, said : " I do not know how these names will 
"strike the enemy, but they fill me with terror." 



170 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

of Robbers ! His account appears to be fair & 
honest, & has been found true in several instances — 
Genl Washington's conduct seems to be founded on 
the knowledge of this, in sending three Brigades to 
the westward ; one in each of those routs. — Another 
of the robbers was bro'. in today, who, said, Allen 
knew & was with in several robberies — 

17. My Avery return^ to Fish Kill — two more persons 

bro'. in today under suspicion — The remainder of 
Gen'. Poors Brigade set out for Eastown via Fish 
Kill— 

18. Gen'. Nixons & Huntingtons^ Brigades ordered to 

march for Eastown — A report today that the Enemy 
have landed a party at Hackensack — measiu^ed for a 
pair of boots. — 

19. Wrote home & to Esqy Batchelder to send by Post to- 

morrow — rainy day — drank tea with Col? Kosciuszko. 

20. Sent my letters to the post ofifice but the post was 

gone — an exceeding rainy day — wind S. W. we hear 
that a boat, in which Cap'. Baily & others went down 
to or near Tarry Town is taken with the hands if not 
the officers. 

21. Rain continued till night — a flag from N. York up at 

Peeks Kill — bound for Fish Kill — 

22. The boat we heard was taken came up, it proved to be 

another boat with a Lieu^ & six men ; to whose cap- 
ture the flag seems to have been accessory — cloudy 
today but no rain — 

Sunday 23. Divine service today at 11 °Clock pr*:* Job 21. 
5. 6, an exceeding fair, pleasant day after a long 
storm, which makes the face of Nature appear very 
beautiful — Wrote home N? 5, by Serg' Eaton. 

24. Col? Meller & I went over to Mr. Mandeville's in the 
A. M— dined & spent the day there — extreme warm 



1 Brigadier-General Jedediah Huntington of Norwich, Conn., graduated 
at Harvard in 1763. He was in tlie court-martial which tried Lee for 
misconduct at Monmouth. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I7I 

today. — reports of the Enemies doing mischief at 
Virginia, particulars not yet learnt — tis said to be 
done by y« detachment that left N. York, not long 
since — 

25. An exceeding growing season — warm & pleasant — 

26. An express last night informs that a considerable party 

of the Enemy are out & that they have a number of 
batteaux in Spikingdevil Creek — Df Wingate & I 
went up to Fish Kill landing dined with Dt Skinner 
at Mf Van-Vorough's repeated small showers detained 
us there till four °Clock — set out for the Barracks, 
reach^ them before Sunset — supped & spent the 
evening at Col? Hays with M^'A Gates — Col? Bedlow, 
M^ Avery not at home. 

27. This day we walked home by Danforths ferry — 

reach*? the point about four °Clock — found all hands 
hard at work to prepare for the reception of the 
enemy ags^ they / do not / come. Lieut Lunt arrived 
at Camp by whom receiv? letters from home to the 
I gill inst. — 

The infantry ordered up from the lines. Major Hull 
with three light Companies to be at Chroton River, 
the others to join their respective Regiments — 

The Enemy in their late excursion killed two men 
near white plains & took several others — about the 
same time a party near Hackinsack murdered an old 
man upward of ninety year old — & committed several 
other instances of barbarity & robbery. — 

28. This evening came into camp with a letter of introduc- 

tion from Esq-: Clarke, the Rev? My M? Orkel a 
Presbeterian clergyman from N. Carolina — he has 
made application to Df M? Water to preside over 
a new erected Academy in the interior parts of that 
State — ^The D^ favors the invitation & the Presbetery 
are to meet, on the subject of his removal, next 
Wednesday. — cloudy. — 

29. Went round and viewed the works with Mf M? Orkel, 

he set on his journey about ten °Clock — very warm 



172 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

today, growing season — orders from Genl M^ Dougal 
for all to be on fatigue, to loose no time in preparing 
to give the enemy a proper reception if they should 
/ not / come. — 

Sunday 30. Wrote home N? 6, by Lieu'. Noyes, in- 
closed to M^ Emery — every man on fatigue ergo no 
opportunity for service — At 3 °Clock P. M. I went 
over to the people in the read C^, a few families at- 
tended — as we were going to C^ met an express from 
Genl M9 Dougal, informing that the enemy are 
coming up the river in force — we attended service, 
Saml 2. 3, the command', sent orders for all to repair 
to their quarters immediately, which we did, found 
the men very vigorous in preparing for an attack — 
warm day. — 

31. Accounts this morning that the enemy are moving up 
slowly.^ Their number of ships, said to be 30 or 40, 
tis said also that they have a fleet in the east river — 
their army still on white plains, from 5 to 7000, men- 
tioned. — 
Some alarm guns fired bet= one & two oClock those 
at King's ferry ^ having fired some hours before, but 
were not heard, at the time the enemy's fleet appeared 
in Haverstraw bay — the number of guns denote their 
fleet to consist of 25 sail the three first to indicate 5 
sail & each one after, the sam number, in conse- 
quence of this we packed up our spare baggage to 
send off — I put on board Col? Littlefield's chest, my 
blue coat — three pair stockings — one of silk, i black, 
I blue worsterd — my box of notes — one pair shoes, & 
plated spurs — i pair of leather breeches, folded in my 
narrow sheet — frequent firing at Kings ferry most of 
the afternoon, cannon appear to be heavy. — several 

1 This expedition was under Sir Henry Clinton, and its object was to 
take Stony and Verplanck's Points. 

-King's Ferry was below Fort Montgomery and just above Stony 
Point. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 73 

small showers today — at sun set I was sent for to go 
on board the Lady Washington Galley to marry— 
Jn? Thompson & Abia Chase — 
Evening — we are just informed that Genl Hunting- 
ton's Brig^ has arriv? at Danforth's ferry opposite 
this point.— The designs of the enemy seem entirely 
uncertain yet — whether they are to attack this post 
or do mischief in Conneticut — very warm today. — 
June I. About 2 oClock this morning Col? Pattin came into 
garrison with his regiment from Haverstraw — Major 
Hull came on early this morning — the block house 
near Kings ferry, commanded by Cap*. Armstrong is 
invested — a moderate cannonade began below be- 
tween 7 & 8 °Clock — continued till near twelve & 
ceased, from whence we conclude the block house has 
given up — half past 12 — an express just arriv^ with 
dispatches from Genl Washington, which left him 
yesterday — Adj'. Francis went with them to Genl 
M? Dougal — M^ Francis return'? with an account that 
Genl St Clair ^ was at Pumpton, yesterday noon, with 
a division of Troops, on his way to our assistance — 
the block house still stands out, the enemy finding 
little benefit from firing, ceased — 
This afternoon a number of volunteers, Officers & 
Soldiers went up to the high point of rocks called 
block house hill & erected a considerable breast work 
sufficient to contain about 100 men — this a company 
of maletia came into camp from up river. 
2. Wrote home N? 7 to Rev^ Gannett p! Post. This 
morning accounts are that the enemy have dropt five 
miles down the river — The reports of this day are 
various & uncertain — some inhabitants, who have ob- 
served from the heights, say there are no vessels this 
side Tarrytown — others that there is one at Kings 



1 Major-General Arthur St. Clair will be remembered as having evacu- 
ated Ticonderoga before Gates took command. He was a man of parts 
and a skillful officer, though he was not favored by fortune. 



174 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

ferry — The most probable account of things seems to 
be — That the block house capitulated last night on 
condition of marching out with the honors of war, 
having their baggage wearing their side arms &c — 
the enemy had raised a battery against it render any 
further opposition useless — that their Troops are 
landed at that place & across the river at Haverstraw 
— a deserter says 5000 at the former & 1500 at the 
latter place — 
Genl M? Dougall moved quarters to Fish Kill — 
Governor Clinton ^ is there with, tis said, 2000 Maletia 
— Genl Parsons's'^ Brigade expected there this night — 
Huntington's betwixt here & there Col? Clarke of the 
i!i Carolina Reg', came in from Paramus, his Reg', en- 
camp^ at the Iron works about 8 miles out — pleasant 
day — wind at N. W. — 
3. This morning things remained quiescent — Col? Clarkes 
Reg', came into camp about 11 °Clock — About one 
P. M. a Serg'. & three, a party of observation, came 
from the east side, informed that a heavy collumn 
had reach'? the village, about 7 miles from this — be- 
tween 2 & 3, an express was sent from fort Mon- 
gumery, informing that some Galleys & a number of 
boats appeared in view — in half an hour a second 
came, & says, they are coming on & their number in- 
creased continually — 
Cap'. Soper came up from reconnoitering at King's 
ferry, & informs that the enemy's fleet came to 
anchor in Peeks Kill bay, their number he thinks is 
upward of fifty — an express informs that Genl 
S'. Clair was at Pumpton last night — Col? Malcom 

^ George Clinton, first governor of the State of New York, served in 
that office continuously from 1777 to 1795. No comment on this fact can 
make him a more shining mark. He showed great energy, both in civil 
and in military capacity. 

2 Samuel Holden Parsons, brigadier and afterwards major general, of 
Lyme, Conn., succeeded General Putnam in the command of the 
Connecticut line. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 75 

goes down to the furnace with the Maletia— Major 
Hull commands the light infantry — This evening 
Genl Parsons came to the garrison to take command 
— he inform that observers from the other side 

say their troops had moved back to Peek's Kill 

Gen' Nixon's Brigade came down near Danfortb this 
evening to encamp — it is the prevailing opinion that 
an attack will be bro'. on to morrow morning very 
early — with this expectation I desire to commit the 
cause to that God who rules over all & is able by the 
smallest exertion to vindicate an injured people; & 
who I trust, will make bare his arm for our help — & 
shew the enemies of our land & liberties, that the 
events of war are in his own hand ; & therefore that 
no weapon formed against his C^ & people shall ever 
prosper.^ — 

4. The enemie's fleet not in view from fort Mongumery, 

this morning — a boat of observation went below & 
discovered them near Kings ferry — they continue 
thereabout all day, make no movement as we can 
learn— they celebrated the Kings birth day by a feude 
Joye as usual— the day & fair & pleasant, rather 
warm — wind at south — 

5. Very little passing today— the enemy lay much in the 

same situation they did yesterday— the wind high at 
west— the surface of the earth begings to be dry — 
Gen'. Deportail came to the point this day. — 
Sunday 6. This morning I attended service with the light 
infantry on block house hill at 9 °Clock pr"? Deut. 
31. 6, the men all on fatigue, ergo no opportunity for 
service in camp — Lieut Peterson with a party of ob- 
servation, & others, mentions that the block house is 
standing — & there is some appearance of a camp — 
but tis said, their transports are mostly gone down 
with troops— they are throwing up works on both 
sides the river at the ferry— This evening joined in 
marriage Eliphalet Griffin & Joanna Gary- 



176 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

7. Went over to My Mandevilles, dined & drank Tea — the 

enemy much in y^ same state — 

8. This morning about nine °Clock the garrison was 

graced by the arrival of his excellency & suit Genl 
M? Dougall &c &c — they reconnoitred the neigh- 
boring ground — & in the afternoon return^ head- 
quarters is in Smiths Clove — 

9. Wrote home N? 8, & to Rev^ Willard pT Post — the 

enemy have advanced a picquet about a Mile west 
from the ferry — things remain quiescent — the works 
go on, but with less vigor — a new work began on the 
Island — very warm today — 

10. A most refreshing rain fell last night attended with 

some thunder & lightning — the air exceeding clear & 
pleasant — The enemy remain in the same state they 
were ; tis said they are cutting forage in the neigh- 
borhood of their camp, which does not look like 
tarrying there long — they seem disposed to carry on 
other than a predatory war at present. — Rev? My 
Kirkland ^ came into garrison, on his way to join 
Genl Sullivan in the western expedition against the 
Indians. — 

11. Things remain in statu quo — various reports today, of 

a French fleet on the coast, the affairs at the 
southard — one says Charlestown is take, another that 
Genl Lincoln has beat them &c &c. I shall for the 
present, set them all down for falshoods — Genl Pater- 
son came to camp. 

12. The enemy chased one of our guard boats — they have 

a party cuting on the west side, for what purpose we 
dont learn — a fine growing season — Genl order for 
Service at 4 Clock tomorrow & no fatigue. 
Sunday 13. This morning it began to rain about eight °Clock 



^ Samuel Kirkland of Norwich, Conn., was a pioneer in the Oneida 
country. He had great influence with the Six Nations and attached the 
Oneidas to our cause. He founded Hamilton Oneida Academy and its 
successor, Hamilton College. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 177 

dined at Headquarters— just after dinner a letter from 
Genl Green informs that Gen' Lincoln has had an ac- 
tion in which the enemy lost 1480, killed, taken & 
wounded— that the account admits of very little 
doubt — rain continued most of the day, very plenti- 
fully, & ergo no public service. 

14. This afternoon Genl Washington ^ came into garrison. 

The account from the southard is further confirmed 
by a letter he has receiv? from a member of congress 
— with some particulars, viz — That the enemy had 
reached the lines at Charlstown & made one attempt 
to assail them, but were repulsed — were about to at- 
tack, the second time, Genl Lincoln came up with 
his body in their rear & routed them with the above 
loss— if this be true, & tis thol there is very little 
room to doubt it, I think we may hope for something 

further favorable from the situation of that ground 

I dined with Col? Littlefield— repeated showers to- 
ward night, 12 deserters came out this day they say 
their roll is called every hour in the day ; & that any 
soldier caught 300 yards without their guards is 
punishd with 300 stripes without benefit of court 
martial — how can they carry on their operations 
without confidence in their Troops ? 

15. This morning his excellency receiv^ the following ac- 

count from the southard,— viz "Copy of handbill 
from Baltimore June 9!]? 
Mt Jo! White, a gentleman of reputation, this moment 
arrived from Edenton N. Carolina & brings the intel- 
ligence of the defeat of the British Army from Geor- 
gia, before Charlestown S. Carolina which by a rapid 
march they had invested about the igi^ ult: ; having, 
tis said, been encouraged to commit that rash act by 



1 The great American was in this season at the most critical point of 
his career. In the light of his final success, we cannot comprehend how 
he was humiliated and misunderstood. Lee's utterance voiced the feel- 
ings of the Cabals, " a certain great man is damnably deficient." 



178 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

their evil counsellors, the tories — The particulars of 
this great event are gone forward to congress by ex- 
press, and may be speedily expected — M^ White ob- 
tained his information from the hon^i'' M^ Hughes of 
Edenton ; who just as he left that place, favor^ him 
with the perusal of a letter from Charlestown — advis- 
ing that the enemies forces, supposed to be under 
the command of Genl Provost, consisted of 3700 — 
That they cannonaded the town upwards of three 
hours to little effect ; killing only 2 or 3 of the garri- 
son during the siege, which was suddenly raised by 
the gallant exertions of Genl Moultrie & his troops, 
who had, to the number of 1500 previously entred the 
town, aided by Count Pulaski, his corps & a noble 
band of citizens who have all gain^ immortal honor — 
That a sally of volunteers closed the scene before the 
Town whence the enemy fled with y^ utmost precipi- 
tation, leaving 553 dead on the spot, & did not halt 
till they had run ten miles — That they had but 2 or 3 
Days provision left — & as 4500 had advanced within 
15 miles of Charlestown under Gen'. Williamson, & 
Genl Lincoln at the head of 2500 men had entered 
Jacksonborough on penpon river, 36 miles from that 
capital & had taken all the enemies baggage, burning 
the village at the alarm Time for lack of righteous in- 
habitants ; it was generally believ^ they must fall into 
his hands — That an insurrection in the Town would 
have aided their attempt, had it not been prevented 
by the execution of 40 of the Traitors." 
I wish the above account may prove true. 

16. This morning opens pleasant. Wrote home N? 9, & to 

Rev^ Willard — per Post ; the intelligence from south- 
ard further confirm"? but not officially — rain'^ P. M. 

17. Accounts from below that the enemy are taking their 

baggage on board, look like their leaving that place, 
Genl Parsons drank Tea with me this evening, & 
gave me the following account of an expedition 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 79 

against the Indians ^ &c on the back of Virginia. 
Col? Clarke of that state penetrated the settlements 
back of it reducing the little villages to obedience, & 
administring the oath of alegiance to them — he took 
several little garrisons, among others Fort Vincent, 
left a garrison & proceed on westward, giving protec- 
tion to the inhabitants mostly French, the Indians 
generally fled — while he was carrying conquest some 
hundred miles — Governor Hamilton of Fort Detroit, 
collected a party of, mostly, Indians — came down to 
Vincent /i 50 miles,/ & retook it — Col? Clarke hear- 
ing of it, near 200 miles distant, march'? in the month 
of February & laid siege to it with a body of men he 
had collected from his new subjects with two rounds 
a piece ; he previously entered a small Village & or- 
dered such of the inhabitants as chose protection 
under Britain to move of to them immediately with 
their effects, & such as wl<? follow him, he would pro- 
tect — they unanimously adhered to him — he obtained 
a barrel of powder from them — he held the fort be- 
sieged by getting under cover of some ground within 
small shot of it which look*? into the Ambrazure 
they had from which they took off the men in 
attempting to manage it — He demanded a surrender 
of the fort — Hamilton desired three days to deter- 
mine, expecting a reinforcement ; Clarke, aware of 
that demanded an immediate surrender or he would 
storm and put all to the sword — in the meantime sent 
off a detachment, who ambushed & routed them, 
killed some & took some Indians who he hung up 
immediately in the view of the fort ; upon which gave 
up himself & garrison which consisted of six officers 
and 100 men ; who he sent under proper escorts 



1 The operations on the whole western frontier against the Indians 
were triumphant. The camp news was much more trustworthy from this 
direction than that which came up from the South. 



l80 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

down to Virginia. Col? Clarke ^ is said to be one of 
the most enterprising genius's in the country — & the 
above justifies the character. 

A large party from the main body came in today, for 
fatigue, to be relieve in one week in one week by the 
same number said to be a looo ; upward of 200 de- 
tached from Nixons Brigade upon the Island ^ to 
compleat the works there, to be reliev? in the same 
man^ 

His excellency went up to Fish Kill this evening, 
after having spent most of the day in reconnoitring 
the neighboring ground, in which he has been inde- 
fatigable ever since he came to the point. — 

18. Tis said the enemy's shipping, except one galley, are 

dropt down ; & that they have left all the ground but 
Stony point, on the west side. 

19. The above report proves false — His excellency left the 

point this day for his quarters in the Clove ^ — 
My Avery came on the point to tarry — 
Sunday 20. Genl M? Dougal came on, to take command 
— Genl Parsons moved over to the east side, his 
Brigade pitch"? near the red C^, No service to day — 
men all on fatigue, 
further accounts from southard strengthning the 
credibility of the former ; but nothing official yet. 

^ George Rogers Clarke, a Virginian and settler in Kentucky. His 
summons to Hamilton in facsimile may be seen, Nar. and Crit. America, 
VI., 727. His career justified Hitchcock's comment. One of the great- 
est of the capable American pioneers, who grasped the origins of empire 
when feeble legislatures and narrow provincial councils cowered at 
home. 

- Constitution Island, often referred to, was opposite West Point, 
where the great river sharply twists from south to east and even north- 
east to avoid the massive rocky point. The turn makes the eastern 
shore, lying in the curve of the main stream. Marshes connect it with 
the main land. The famous chain stretched from Fort Clinton to this 
island. 

3 Washington's headquarters were at Clove. This post hamlet is in 
Dutchess County, about eleven miles southeast from Poughkeepsie. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. l8l 

21. Accounts today from Gen'. Huntington that deserters 

say the enemy have sent all their women down — & 
are take their cannon on board — 
Married Henry Smith & Phebe Cockswain — late 
Brewer's Reg*. — 

22. This day I had the pleasure of a long & equally agree- 

able packet from home p^ Mr Wescot — Gen'. Parsons 
receiv? from Govy Tryon ^ a handbill, containing a 
broken account from Georgia of their success in 
south Carolina— a very feeble support under their 
misfortunes there — a letter accompanied it inviting 
Genl Parsons to embrace this opportunity of return- 
ing to their former allegiance to the parent state. — 
His excellency came into camp to day, made but little 
tarry, very warm. — 

23. Wrote N? 10 pT Post inclosed to M! Ward Salem very 

warm to day 

24. The society of Free Masons celebrated the feast of 

S'. John ^ — I delivered a discourse to them I Jn? 3. 
II — Major Hull delivered a short Oration — a good 
dinner & some agreeable songs, grand & inspired by 
his Excellency's presence formed the remaining 
scene — he receive a letter from Genl Green informing 
that the reason of an official account having not yet 
arriv^ , was ; that expresses had been intercepted — 
but that the fact was true of the defeat of the enemy 
at the southard, Gen'. Heath ^ took command on the 
east side — 



1 William Tryon, an Irishman and colonial governor, was appointed to 
New York in 1771. England has sent many excellent colonial adminis- 
trators into all parts of the world. With them have been some of 
another sort, and Tryon was one of the inferior proconsuls. 

2 Chaplain Smith (Guild's Life, p. 253) records his attendance on this 
occasion to hear Hitchcock's sermon. 

3 William Heath of Roxbury, Mass., major-general in the Continental 
line, was distinguished in civil and in military life. Commander of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery, he wrote upon tactics and was useful 



1 82 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

25. Col! Bailey & Tupper ^ dined with us — very warm — 

26. I din"? with Genl Parsons on roast lamb & green peas — 

receiv? a card from his excellency to dine with him at 
New-Winsor tomorrow. Wrote home N? 11 by Mf 
Wescot, sent 300 dolh — very warm weather. 
Sunday 27. This morning I perform^ service to my Brigade 
in the new Barruck at 9 °Clock from I Cor : 15, 33, — 
went immediately up to Head quarters New Winsor 
— in company with Col? Tupper, Pattin &c — preach^ 
to the Genl , Family : & guards &c — Job, 27, 5, 6, re- 
turn^ to camp after dinner much fatigued — Tis said 
the enemy are moving down the river — further ac- 
counts from the southard, corroberate former ; but 
none official — a considerable shower on the river 
about II °Clock — 

28. The enemy's force is gone down the river — except a 

Galley & some small craft — & 600, 'tis said, on each 
side to keep garrison — whether this movement is a 
decoy, or to make desent other where, or from some 
other cause is not certain. 
The day has been warm, but nothing equall to this 
day 12 months. 

29. His excellency & suit went down to fort Mongumery 

by water — Col? Hamilton ^ informs me that the 
enemys strength left at their new post, is 800 on this 



1 Benjamin Tupper of Stoughton, Mass., was made colonel of nth 
Massachusetts regiment in 1776. Before the close of the war he was 
made a brigadier-general. 

2 Alexander Hamilton has been classified by competent authority 
among the five men of the first class in Revolutionary times — men who 
would have been great in any country and any time. He had been on 
Washington's staff since March, 1777. He was his secretary and much 
trusted in planning the campaigns. 



in pursuing the British from Concord. A member of the Committees of 
Correspondence and, after the war, of the convention that ratified the 
Federal Constitution. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 83 

side & 600 on the east — warmer today than yes- 
terday. 
This day I receiv? a Certificate sign"? by Col? Bostwick, 
of forage money due on my account from July 5^ 
1777 to Sep'. 28— from Nov! i D? to March 251^ 1778, 
— ^41: 8^, N-York currency. 
30. Din-? at Genl M? Dougall's ! Warm as yesterday — 
July I. This day I receive my wages & subsistence from 
Novy I, 1778 to March i, 1779, 500 doll! , by the hand 
of P. M. Allen.— 
Wrote home N? 12 & to Rev? Willard pT Cap'. White— 
who together with Cap'. Jenkins has resign'? . Made a 
visit to Genl Heath. Reports of another successful 
action at the southard. 

2. Wrote to Rev? Upham & Hilyard by D^ Thatcher, re- 

ports of further success at the southard — nothing 
Authentick — cool & comfortable — 

3. Wrote home N? 13, & to M\ Herrick, p\ Lieu'. Chad- 

burn. — 
Sunday 4. Divine service in the new barracks at nine 
"Clock — Heb : 3, 12, 13, some officers & a few 
Soldiers attended — the most on fatigue — at i oClock 
thirteen Cannon were discharged from the garrison, 
as many from the galley, in celebration of the Anni- 
versary of American Indepen^E declare the fourth 
July 1776. 
Din"? with Gen'. Parsons — heard Ml Baldwin preach at 
5 P. M. Exodus 12, 14, — warm day. 
5. This day we have account that a party of Continent 
troops & some Maletia from the state of Virginia, 
surprized & disperse a considerable body of Indians 
with some British Troops & Tories who were forming 
an expedition against the back parts of that state — 
destroyed many of them — took & demolished their 
magazine of provisions — & laid waste twenty of their 
towns or villages, 
this has been warmer than any day this season has pro- 
duced — My Baldwin &c din<? here. 



184 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

6. This Mr Avery & I went to Genl Nixon's dined & 

spent the day, about five oClock came up a thunder 
shower, rain considerably, some severe lightning — 
one flash struck in Col? Putnam's ^ Reg^. — it first 
took a stake about eight feet high, ran into the 
ground under a large rock which it split & ran along 
thro the Tents of Cap'. Whipples company — killed 
one man who lay asleep with his head near his gun, 
scorched & wounded about twelve more, one or two 
dangerously, the others slightly, — an alarming provid' 
indeed for poor thoughtless sinners ! the unhappy 
victim appeared to have no external wound about 
him. — 

7. Wrote home N? 14, enclosed to M": Ward ; p^ Post. — 
Accounts of the enemy burning East Haven & were 

marching for N. Haven. 

8. This afternoon I had a turn of the collick, a disorder 

very brief in camp, the number of our sick encrease 
very fast. 

9. Accounts that the enemy have burnt Fairfield & were 

pursuing to Norwork '^ — 
reports from the southard that the enemy are captured 
there — 

10. Wrote home N? 15, p! M\ Andrew Thorndike, accounts 
that 4000 troops are on their thro' Horse Neck to join 
impotent Tryon in fulfilling the measure of his ini- 
quities on the Sound. 

Sunday 11. This morning about 9 it began to rain, it en- 
creased & continued all day, attended with a high 
southerly wind, — very cool for the season. — 

1 Rufus Putnam of Sutton, Mass., after the war founded Marietta, 
Ohio. He was a millwright and then common soldier in the French war. 
His abiHty in throwing up defences at Roxbury impressed Washington. 
The General wrote Congress that the millwright was a better engineer 
than the experts from France, who were getting appointments. With his 
cousin, Israel Putnam, he superintended fortifications at West Point. 

2 This was Tryon's raid into Connecticut, 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 185 

12. This day has been uncommonly cool for the season — 

unwell, took an emetick P. M. 

13. We hear the enemy have burnt Norwark — A number 

of Col? Tuppers Officers applied for discharge. — 

14. Wrote home N? i6, & to Esq^ Batchelder largely on 

our necessities, p^ Post — 
A letter from President Jay to his Father informs that 
the Islands of Guernsey & Jersey are captured by the 
French, that Mons^ Gerard had announced it in Con- 
gress — That Lord O'Conerly at the head of 15000 in 
the west associated under Lord O'Neal for the de- 
fence of the country, — probably a revolt — that Gib- 
eralter & port Mahoon are besieged &c — 

15. Wrote home N? 17, by L*. Goodridge. This morn- 

ing his Excellency came down from headquarters 
at N. Winsor by sun rise — and went down 
the river, return^ just at Night — his having been 
down frequently of late and observing the situation of 
affairs about Kings ferry — the light infantry being all 
ordered to join Genl Wayne ^ by eight °Clock this 
morning near the furnace — Genl Nixon's Brigade or- 
dered to march to day but a detachment of 250 only 
gone — ours ordered to march tomorrow, to be ready 
to cross the river by five Clock — these circumstances 
prognosticate some enterprize in view — what it is, 
will be determined best when executed. — 
A high wind at N. W. — 

16. This morning was introduced by the agreeable intelli- 

gence of Genl Wayne and the Infantry having taken 
Stony point ^ last Night at one Clock by Coup de 
main. 

1 " Mad Anthony " of Chester County, Penn. The epithet was not 
fully descriptive, for he was as discreet and cautious as he was brave. 
A colonel in 1776, he was made a brigadier-general February 21, 1777. 
Altogether he was a most efficient officer. 

2 Stony Point on the west side and Verplank's Point opposite were at 
the Narrows, below the Highlands, with King's Ferry between. These 



l86 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

Genl Wayne's body consisted of seventeen Companies 
of light troops — about 1200 — the attack appears to 
have been judiciously plan^ & as well executed — He 
possessed himself of the strong fort without fireing a 
gun ; sustained the loss of about 30 killed and 
wounded — of the enemy 120 were killed & wounded, 
four of the former, officers — 381 and 24 officers taken 
— in consequence of this important and agreeable in- 
telligence Ours & the remainder of Nixon's Brigade 
ordered to march immediately— Ours cross"? the river 
A. M. remain"? on Nelson's point till towards night 
when they moved off, and to my great mortification 
left me behind, being not well eno' to travel, and my 
horse at Lichfield ; I went as far as Mandevilles and, 
painful as it was, return*? back to the point — 

17. This morning I borrowed a horse, to ride to the Brig^. 
They camp"? at the continental Village last night — I 
found them on some broken ridges within a mile of 
the enemy's works, which appear very strong — those 
on Stony point, look formidable. I left the brigade at 
5 "Clock to return — met two, 12 pounders, brass, a 
mile in their rear — after I came away they filed to the 
right, by the crick ; a little cannonade upon them — 
return"? to W. point in the even? ; a number of boats 
gone down the river 

Sunday 18. This day our brigade retired from Vam Planks 
point up to Continental Village — Clinton on his 
march with whole army : 
Gen'. S*. Clair's division came on the Point — a number 
of the wounded bro'. up in boats. — 

19. Genl Howes ^ & Heaths divisions return^ to the other 
side the river. — 

1 Major-General Robert Howe was a patriot of North Carolina, pre- 
viously trained as a soldier in the British service. He was well educated, 
a good tactician and an engineer. 

works were planned as outworks of West Point, and were taken by the 
British in June. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 87 

The loss on our side in the late action was 1 1 killed and 
62 wounded— a great quantity of miletary stores 
brought up from Stony point — the works demolished 
& the place evacuated. 

20. The Brigade return*? to the point this day evening — 

21. Wrote home N? i8 and to D^ Spofford py Post. This 

evening I receiv? the most sensible pleasure by the 
favor of an agreeable letter from my dear Achsah 
from July i!i to the 12^± and another from Brother 
Willard of the 6% by My Poland. 

This day his Excellency removed on to the point — took 
quarters at the red house. 

Gen'. Waynes orders ^ previous to an attack upon the 
British garrison on Stoney Point. 

The troops will march at °Clock & move by the right 
making a short halt at the Creek or Run, next on this 
side Clements= every Officer and noncommissioned 
Officer will remain with & be answerable for every 
man in their platoons — No Soldier to be permitted to 
quit the ranks, on any pretence whatever, untill a 
general halt is made, & then to be attended by one of 
the Officers of the platoon — when the Van of the 
troops arrive in the rear of the Hill Z, Col? Feb- 
eser " will form his Reg', into a solid Column of half a 
platoon in front as fast as they can come up — Col? 
Meigs ^ will form in the rear of Febeser, & Major 



^ A splendid military exploit planned by Washington, who instructed 
Wayne in his own hand. The orders show how carefully the whole 
scheme was considered and projected to certain success. The "short 
halt at the Creek " probably was an element in the success, insuring exact 
cooperation. Wayne's execution was as good as the plan. 

2 Christian Febiger, a Dane, served with marked ability throughout 
the war. 

3 Return Jonathan Meigs of Middletown, Conn., was an efficient 
colonel. After the war he was settled at Marietta, Ohio, and became an 
Indian agent. He was known among his clients as "The White Path." 



loo RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Hull in the rear of Meigs ; which will form the right 
Column — 

Col? Butler will form a column on the left of Febeser 
& Maj^ Murphy in his rear — every Officer & Soldier 
is then to fix a piece of white paper in the most con- 
spicuous part of his Hat or cap to distinguish him 
from the enemy. — 

At the word, March, Col? Fleury ^ will take charge of 
150 determined & pick'? men, properly officered, & 
with musquets unload? placeing their whole defence on 
the Bayonet, will move about 20 paces in front of the 
right Column, by the route N? i, & enter the sally 
port, 6, he is to detach an Officer & 20 men a little in 
front, whose business it will be to secure the Sentries, 
remove the abbatis & other obstructions for the 
column to pass thro'. — The column will follow close 
in the rear with shouldered Arms, under Col? Febe- 
ser, with Genl Wayne in person — When the works 
are forced, & not before the victorious troops will 
enter & give the watch word — {The Fort is our own.) 
with repeated & loud voice ; & drive the enemy from 
their works & Guns, which will favor the passage of 
the whole. 

Should the enemy refuse to surrender, or attempt to 
make their escape by water or otherwise, vigorous 
measures must be used to force them to the former, 
and prevent them accomplishing the latter. 

Col? Butler will move by the route N? 2, preceded by 
100 men with unloaded arms & fixed Bayonets under 
the command of Major Stewart,^ who will observe a 
distance of 20 yards in front of the column, which will 

1 Louis Chevalier and Viscount de Fleury, a descendant of the Car- 
dinal, was educated in France as an engineer. Lieutenant-colonel in our 
army, he was the first to enter the works and struck the British standard 
with his own hand. Congress voted thanks and a silver medal for his 
brilliant exploit. 

2 John Stewart, born in Ireland, was Wayne's brother-in-law. Congress 
awarded him a gold medal for gallantry. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 1 89 

immediately follow under the command of Col? But- 
ler, with shouldered Musquets, & enter the sally- 
ports, C or D, — the officer commanding the above 
nam"^ lOO men, will also detatch a proper officer & 20 
men a little in front to remove the obstructions ; as 
soon as they gain the works they are also to give, & 
continue the watch word will prevent confusion & 
mistake. 

Maj": Murphy will follow Col? Butler to the first figure 
j> when he will divide a little to the right & left & 
wait the attack on the right, which will be his signal 
to begin, & to keep up a perpetual & gauling fire, & 
endeavor to enter between & possess the works, 
A. A.— 

If any soldier presumes to take his Musquet from his 
shoulder, or attempt to fire, or begins the battle until 
ordered by his proper officer, he shall be instantly put 
to death by the officer next him, for the cowerdice or 
misconduct of one man is not to put the whole into 
danger or disorder with impunity — After the troops 
begin to advance to the works, the strictest silence 
must be observed, & the greatest attention paid to 
the commands of the officers — As soon as the lines 
are carried, the Officers of Artillery, with the men 
under their command, will take possession of the 
Cannon, to the end the shipping may be secured, & 
the post at Vamplanks point annoyed as much as 
possible to facilitate the attack on that quarter. 

The Genl has the fullest confidence in the bravery & 
fortitude of the Corps he has the pleasure to com- 
mand ; the distinguish honor confer"? on every Officer 
& Soldier, who has been draughted by his Excellency 
Genl Washington, the credit of the States they 
respectively belong to, & their own Reputation, will 
be such powerful inducments for each man to distin- 
guish himself, that the Genl canl have the least doubt 
of a glorious Victory ; & further he solemnly engages 
to reward the first man who enters the works with 



igO RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

500 dollars & immediate promotion, to the second 
400, the third 300, the fourth 200 & the fifth 100 dol- 
lars, & will represent the conduct of every Officer & 
Soldier, who distinguishes himself on this occasion in 
the most favorable point of view to his Excellency 
who receives the greatest pleasure in rewarding 
merit. 

But should there be any soldier so lost to every feeling, 
to every sense of honor, as to attempt to retreat one 
single foot, or shrink from . [missing] . . danger, the 
officer next him, is immediately to put him to death, 
that he may no longer disgrace the name of a Soldier, 
or the corps, or the State, to which he belongs. 

As Gen'. Wayne is determined to share in the danger 
of the night, so he wishes to participate in the glory 
of the day in common with his fellow Soldiers. — 
July 15, 1779. A. Wayne 

In the action — of our men — Killed 2 Sergli, 13 Privates 
— Wounded i Brigy Gen'. — i Lt Col? — two Cap!i — 
three Lieut? — ten Serg^ — four Corporals & 64 
privates — 

Of the Enemy — Killed 50 — Wounded Prisoners 544, 
twenty eight of whom were Officers. 

22. This day I receive a letter from M^ Garnett, and wrote 

to him by Cap'. Sumner — 

23. The plunder of Stoney point sold, at enormous prices 

—Wrote to Rev? My Stone. 

24. Wrote home N? 19 and to Rev<? Willard,^ by Cap^ 

Whiting, my mare came in from pasture in good flesh. 
Sunday 25. Rain"? all day — ergo no Service — Wrote to the 

Rev? Mr Gad Hitchcock '^ pr Mr Samson — 
26. A general council of war, held today at headquarters 

prognosticates some movement, not long first — This 

1 Joseph Willard, D. D., LL. D., was settled at Beverly, Mass. He 
became president of Harvard College in the following year. 

'■^ Gad Hitchcock, D. D., was minister at Pembroke, Mass. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. I91 

day some Coffee, Tea, Chocolate & Sugar arrived 
from the State — the only stores they have sent us 
since last spring — the last were issued before I 
arrived at the point, on the 17^ of April — 
Very pleasant day after the refreshing rain, yes- 
terday. — 
27. This morning I receive from the State Store, for myself 



& waiter — io}4 '^ Sugar i^, ij4 'b Xea 2 doll. 



lb 



Chocolate at half a doll per pound — total 5 dollars — 
in this country Sugar is sold at 5 doll pT lb. — Tea at 
30 d? — The difference then, in Tea, is as one to fif- 
teen, and in sugar as one to thirty, which is our loss. — 

28. Last night a Sub: & 15 or 18 privates deserted from 

Col? de Armong Regiment at Crompond. 

29. Rain<? last Night — 
Extract from Genl Orders. 

Many & pointed orders have been issued against that 
unmeaning & abominable custom of swearing ^ — not- 
withstanding which, with much regret, the Genl ob- 
serves it prevails, if possible, more than ever ; his 
feelings are continually wounded by the oaths & im- 
prications of the Soldiers, whenever he is in hearing 
of them — The name of that being, from whose boun- 
tiful goodness we are permitted to exist, & enjoy the 
comforts of life, is constantly impricated & profaned, 
in a manner as wanton as it is shocking — for the sake 
therefore, of Religion, decency & order, the Genl 
hopes & trusts, that Officers of every rank, will use 
their influence and Authority to check a Vice which 
is as unprofitable as it is wicked & Shameful — if Offi- 
cers would make it an invariable rule to reprimand, & 



1 Uncle Tobey's experience in Flanders has been often repeated. In 
our Civil war one of the first and rudest imitations of the contrabands 
(escaped slaves) was in trying to swear. They made wretched work of 
it. No swearing is elegant, but it should flow easily to justify itself, even 
from the profane point of view. 



192 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

if that does not do, to punish Soldiers of this kind, it 
would not fail of having the desired effect. 

30. This month has been rema'bly cool — 

31. Dined at Gen'. Heath's — not well to day 

Sunday August i. Receiv? a card to dine at head quarters 
— his Excellency and part of his Family attended 
Divine service with us at 5 °Clock Heb : i, 13, — 
several deserters came in — every day produces 5 or 
six — rain*? in the morning — 

2. This day pleasant — 

3. Receiv? a letter from Master Herrick dated July 13, by 

Sipio — rain'^ last Night — 

4. Wrote home N? 20 — and to Cap'. Israel Dodge p^ 

Post.— 
We have various and contradictory accounts from 
abroad — We hear that we have taken their fleet & 
army at the eastward — Revington had it that they 
have taken ours — We have it Count D"' Estaing ^ has 
got advantage against the British fleet. He, that the 
British had the advantage of D^ Estaing & taken five 
of his ships. — The favorable account we are disposed 
to give the most credit to, from the circumstance of 
the enemy's drawing within King's Bridge, & fortify- 
ing below fort Washington. Cool & pleasant to 
day. — 

5. This day our Brigade was mustered and revew"? — I 

wrote to Brother Cutler p!: Major Bannister — warm at 
mid-Day — cool evening. 

6. This day there has been some firing heard below, we 

have not heard the occasion, but suppose it was 
occasion'^ by a body of our light Infantry which had 
gone down to reconnoitring. — 

7. The firing yesterday was from a row-Galley upon some 

boats of ours, — rain'^ last Night & all this day — 

1 Charles Henry Theodat Count d'Estaing was Vice Admiral of 
France, and commanded the squadron, which cooperated with Wash- 
ington. In 1792 he was guillotined. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 193 

Sunday 8. Divine service at 5 °Clock P. M. Exod : 32, 26, 
a fine day after the storm. 

9. Account today both from Revington's paper and from 
Philadelphia, confirm former accounts of an action 
between the two fleets, in which D« Estaing got the 
advantage . . . also of our success at Penobscot 
— particulars not come — 
A hea.vy shower at mid Day — 

10. Wrote home N? 21, to Rev<? Smith and Cutler, and to 

the president of the Socy (?) [indistinct] Cap'. Francis 
who is going to procure certain Articles of Cloathing 
— Showery about noon — 

11. Rain*^ all the afternoon — took some Sal: absynthi & 

Rei — in vinegar. 

12. Rain continued all night, warm, fine growing weather 

— very unwell— took an infusion of sena, manna & 
Sal : Tart :— 

13. This day has been very warm. — 
14 Extreme warm to day. 

Sunday 15. Divine service at 5 P. M. Ml Avery preached 
to both brigades, Jn? 17, 3, — not well able to speak 
myself — receiv? a letter friend Plumb, by Df Young, 
wrote to him by the same hand. — 
Some further accounts of the W. India affair, from 
M^ Bingham, our Agent at Martineco — by which we 
learn the action was very severe — great damage was 
sustained on either side — but that count de. Estaing 
is triumphant in those seas 

16. This is thought to have been the warmest day we have 

had this season, 
by a letter from Genl Lovel, we learn that some of the 

enemy's outworks are carried — and that they have 

sunk two of their ships — 
The affairs of Sullivan are thought to look doubtful on 

account of bad provision being sent him. — 

17. A fine shower last night — the air cool & pleasant after 

the extreme heat of yesterday. — 



194 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1 8. Receiv? letter from home dated Aug'. 6^ by serg'. 

Eaton — warm today — 

19. This day we receiv? six sheeps from Esq^ Weads 

Canaan, by John — very acceptable indeed 

20. This morning I went up to Newburgh with Col? Brooks, 

return"? at evening — rain? most of the day, the wind 
and tide against us — ergo not the most agreable 
voyage. 

The following agreable and important intelligence came 
to camp — A. M. — from P. Sterling. — 

That Major Lee with 300 horse and infantry has taken 
the fort on Powle's hook and brought off 150 prison- 
ers, particulars not yet receiv? — 

21. Rain? most of the day, reports this evening that Major 

Lee ^ was cut off in his retreat — nothing to be de- 
pended on- — 
Sunday 22. Divine service at 5, I Jn? 5, 4, rain^ most of the 
night till toward noon, repeated showers all day — a 
very great quantity of rain has fallen in three days 
past. — 

His excellency informs the army, in orders to day, of 
Maj^ Lee's feat — speaks of it much to his and the 
honor of his officers & men — - 

Wrote home N? 22 & to brother Willard by Majy 
King. — 

23. This day accounts came to camp of a british mail 

taken & carried into Philadelphia — containing some 
important dispatches. 
Also from Gen'. Sullivan — that he has destroyed an 
Indian Town & laid waste their promising fields. 

24. Pleasant to day — 

25. Repeated showers to day. — 



1 " Light Horse Harry" was a favorite relative of Washington's. He 
was most efficient afterwards in Greene's southern campaign. The gen- 
eral said of him: "No man in the southern campaign has equal merit 
"with Lee." On this occasion he surprised Paulus Hook (Jersey City) 
and took 160 prisoners. 



Publications 

OF THE 

Rhode Island Historical Society. 

Vol. VII. JANUARY, 1900. NO. 4. 

Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., {Concluded). 



edited by 
Captain William B. Weeden. 



Continued /rom page JQ4. 

{17 7(), August.) 

26. Rain^ last Night — this long spell of wet weather 

greatly endangers the health of the troops. Wrote 
home N? 23 & to Rev^ M-: Upham p": D-: Adams- 
dated thro mistake the 27'.'^ — Accounts that our 
fleet is blocked up at Penobscot, cool & comfortable. 

27. This day accounts from N. York are, that Arbuth- 

not ^ is near with his fleet. — 
M': Wescot arrived — no letter for me, M":^ Hitchcock 
not well. — 

28. The fate of our Penobscot expedition & of the fleet, 

arrived. Tis said Arbuthnot is actually arrived at 
N. York- 
Sunday 29. Divine service at 5 °Clock P. M. Acts, 2. 22. 
His Excellency & suit Genl^ Putnam — Heath — 
Green '^ — Knox ^ & suits — D": Shipin ^ Col? Cox 

1 Marriot Arbuthnot, vice-admiral of the Blue, was in command of the 
British fleet on the North American station. 

- Major-General Nathanael Greene of Warwick, R. I., ranked next to 
Washington in military capacity. His campaign at the South in 1781 
brought out generalship equal to any in the war. 

* Brigadier-General (afterwards Major-General) Henry Knox was born 



208 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

&c &c — A subject ^ on the tenth Sunday August 
29, of Christianity might not be amiss — further ac- 
counts that Spain has issued a manifesto charging 
Britain with a 100 articles of perfidy, — and that the 
French fleet had joined theirs to 75 in number. — 
30. Extract from the orders of yesterday — 

The command": in chief has the pleasure to announce 
the following resolutions which the hon^if the Con- 
gress have been pleased to pass for the benefit of the 
Army. The disposition manifested in the resolves is 
a fresh proof to the army that their country entertain 
a high sense of their merits & services ; & are in- 
clined to confer an hon^J^ & adequate compensation. 

The genl flatters himself the several states will second 
the generous views of Congress & take every proper 
measure to gratify the reasonable expectations of 
such officers & soldiers as are determined to share 
the glory of serving their & themselves thro the war, 
& finishing the task they have so nobly begun. 

The flourishing aspect of affairs in Europe & the 
W. Indies as well as in these States gives us every 
reason to believe, that this happy period will speedily 
arrive. 

In Congress Aug'. 17'.'' Whereas the Army of the 
United States of America have, by their patriotism, 
valour & perseverance in the defence of their country, 
become entitled to the Gratitude as well as the 
Approbation of their fellow citizens — 

Resolved. That it be & it is hereby recommended to 



^ A preacher seldom has a better opportunity than this distinguished 
company afforded. Dr. Hitchcock very modestly records his sense of it, 
for he speaks of Christianity and not of himself. 

at Boston of Scotch-Irish stock. He commanded the artillery through 
the war and was much trusted by Washington. 

* Probably Dr. William Shippen, a physician of Philadelphia, and a 
deleofate to Congress. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 209 

the Several States that have not already adopted 
measures for that purpose, to make such further pro- 
vision for the officers & soldiers enlisted for the war, 
to them respectively belonging who shall continue in 
service till the establishment of peace, as shall be an 
adequate compensation for the many dangers losses 
& hardships they have suffered & been exposed to in 
the course of the present contest— either by granting 
their officers half pay for life & proper rewards to 
their soldiers, or in such other way as may appear 
most expedient to the legislatures of the several 
states. 

Resolved. That it be recommended to the several 
states, to make such provision for the widows of such 
of their officers & of their soldiers enlisted for the 
war, as have died or may die in Service, as shall 
secure to them the sweets of that liberty, for the en- 
joyment of which, their husbands have nobly laid 
down their lives. — 

Resolved, Aug*. i8. — That, untill the further order of 
congress, the Officers of the Army be entitled to re- 
ceive monthly for their subsistence money the sums 
following — viz — each Col? & brig^? Chap? 500 dol- 
lars ^ & all others in proportion — each Soldier 10 
doll! p': month in lieu of those articles of food origi- 
nally intend for them & not furnished — An account 
of the cloathing due to the men to be made out ^n 
order for payment. — 

Receive letters from Rev4 Ward & Plumb — 
31. Col? Davidson -^ and D": Burnett dined here — very cool 
towards night. 
September V} West Point. This intelligence from Phila- 
delphia that an ordnance ship taken from Arbuthnot's 
fleet had arrived containing 26 piece of brass ord- 
nance, and other very valuable articles. 

1 The fathers appreciated their chaplains well in the matter of pay. 

X 
William Davidson, of Rowan County, North Carolina. 



210 e!hode island historical society. 

2. Wrote home N? 24 by M': Wescot who left the point 

about noon — sent 100 doll! — Received p^ post, a 
letter from brother Willard dated Augt 23, which in- 
forms me of the situation of my family — it came P. M. 
I wrote a line and sent it after M": Wescot — Wrote 
to Rev4 M-: Ward p': M-: Whiting. 

3. Rainy, dull day. 

4. Very little passing — 

Sunday 5. Divine service at 5 «' Clock P. M. the Rev4 
M^. Blair ^ preach^ for me, from Matt: 7, 12. His 
excellency & a large number of gentlemen present. — 
cool to-day — 

6. Col? Cox A. Q. M. G. observed in company with his ex- 

cellency & others, that by the calculation of a number 
of gentlemen at Philadelphia that the quantity of 
currency now in circulation does not amount quite to 
143,000,000 dollars, ergo, the depreciation far exceeds 
to the quantity. 

7. Some accounts from Genl Sullivan, that he has had an 

engagement with the united force of Butlers " Brandt 
&c the enemy, they fled and left twelve Indians dead 
and all their baggage trinkets &c, which he took, tis 
said Genl Poor distinguished himself on the occasion. 

Accounts from N. York are that an embarkation is 
taking place there — how large or where destin^ is not 
known^ — 

Of the French taking an English 74 and a mast ship in 
the W. Indies — 

8. Wrote home N? 25 enclosed to Rev4 M": Willard 

p-: Post. 



1 Probably Samuel Blair, D. D., who was chaplain of the Continental 
Congress. 

2 Colonel John Butler, a prominent Tory, commanded a regiment of 
marauders, traitors and vagabonds dressed like Indians. 

Joseph Brandt (Thayandanega) was a Mohawk chief of ability, who 
held a colonel's commission from the King. He lived at the head of 
Lake Ontario after the war. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 211 

9. A shower last night — This day D": Hart ^ & I went 
over to Genl Nixon's Brigade return^ at evening. 

10. Tis said a large embarkation certainly taking place at 

York — their destination not known, Boston is conjec- 
tured by many. 

11. This day we had a report that Count d. Estaing has 

had another successful action near Antego and taken 
six ships — I wish it may prove true. — very unwell 
to-day — 
Sunday 12. Divine service at Yi past four P. M. I Cor: 
15, 19. Cool for the season — a shower last night — 

13. This day has been cool — buried a 9. month's man of 

late Brewers Regt from Boxford. — 

14. This morning I took a powerful cathartic — of Cen ; 

An-seed, cream Tar : infusion dissolv^ in it Man : 
Glob : Sal : lenetive electuary — to be followed with 
the heuestis salinis — 

15. This afternoon his Excellency, de la Luzerne,'^ Am- 

bassador from the court of Versailles, arrived in 
camp — his arrival was announced by the discharge of 
13 cannon — He has fine personality — his counte- 
nance indicates a healthy body & placid mind — 
appears to be between 40 & 50 years old. This day I 
have been very unwell. 

16. This day I visited a poor, unhappy man of the N. Caro- 

lina troops, under Sentence of death for desertion. 
He appears very ignorant of divine things — but much 
affected with his state — He was seduced by a fellow 
of the same Reg'. , who has been forging discharges 
for a number of men, for which crime he ran the 
gauntlet yesterday & was drum*? out of the Camp — & 
is now in a miserable situation by Danforths, not able 
to move — 

17. The coolness of the weather abates. 

1 Probably Levi Hart, D. D., who was minister at Preston, Conn. 

2 Anne C^sar de la Luzerne, a distinguished diplomatist, was minis- 
ter until 1783. He was much esteemed and beloved by our people. 



212 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1 8. This day I dined at Headquarters — Accounts from 
Philadelphia that the Spainiards have invested Gib- 
raltar — 
The poor fellow of the N. Carolina Brigade pardoned ; 
some care has been taken of the one who was 
scourged. 
Purchased at the state Store — 5^ lb of sugar at one 
shilling pr lb. 

Sunday 19. Divine Service half past four I Cor: 9-25, his 
excellency & family present — warm & pleasant. 

20. Wrote home N? 26, p': Sergeant Day of Cap-Ann, 

pleasant day. 

21. This morning the light infantry marched between day 

& Sunrise toward Stony point — in consequence of re- 
ports that the enemy were about evacuating that 
place — Tis said they have left Van Plunks point — 
nothing certain from that quarter. 

22. No news from below — ergo — conclude the reports of 

yesterday were groundless. 

23. Receive a letter from M^.^^ Hitchcock dated Sep'. 8* the 

first after her illness — 

24. There are still appearances of a large embarkation at 

N. York — Tis said they are bound for Ireland, that 
there is a revolt in that country. 

25. Genl Paterson & Col? Tupper chosen to go to court ^ to 

represent the state of the army &c &c — 
Sunday 26. This day it rain^ — ergo no service — 

27. This day fair and pleasant, the coming of Count 

d. Estaing revived — 

28. Wrote home N? 27 by Col? Tupper. Mr. Guild from 

Coll : arrived on the point — by whom I receiv^ a letter 
from M': Gannett — fine day. 

29. Conducted M": Guild round to view the works — intro- 

duced him to Genl Washington & family — we dined 
at headquarters — 

30. This morning about 8 °Clock M": Guild took boat for 

1 The General Court of Massachusetts. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 213 

Murderers creek on his way to Philadelphia, accounts 
the Count d. Estaing was off S. Carolina the 8'> inst, 
bound to Georgia. 
October i. This month comes in fair and pleasant, but 
very little news. — 
The N. Carolina Brigade marcM from the Island via 
N. Windsor — the light infantry marched from Ca- 
kerat. — 
2. Wrote home N? 28 p": Cap'. Walcot — 
Sunday 3. Divine Service at 4 changed with M": Baldwin 
pl^ Genl Parson's Brig^ Prov : 14, 14. — very warm — 

4. The carpenters taken from the works to build boats — 

Pilots collecting — which encreases our expectation of 
Count d. Estaing. 

5. This day I dined with Genl Putnam — The Lieut Girard 

came to camp — lowry — raind last night. 

6. This day I dined with Friend Baldwin — spent the P. M. 

at Genl Heath's — cloudy & cold. — 

7. Reports to-day of the English being burned at the 

southard. 

8. Wrote home N? 29 & to cousin Phebe by Friend Bald- 

win sent 200 Dol. Accounts from Sullivan at Wy- 
oming on his return — his success has answered 
expectation — He has destroyed 160,000 bushels of 
corn — forty towns, one of which contained 125 framed 
houses, besides a number of small Villages — with the 
loss of less than 40 men including all killed in action, 
died of their wounds & sickness — Lieut Boyde & 
20 men sent out on a party, were surrounded, all 
killed ; the Lieut & one man, mangled in a most bar- 
barous mam — A second freight of Germans, 220, 
carried into Philadelphia; the first amounted to 156 
& 6 Officers— 
This day ^ nine deserters from the Enemy to-day — they 
say accounts in N. York are that the British fleet at 
Georgia is taken — also Provost, 

1 Ninth omitted, probably. 



214 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Sunday lo. Divine Service at three °Clock P. M. 2 Cor : 
I, 12. warm & pleasant. — 

11. Receiv<? of M": Pierce Depy P. M. G. 961 J^ dollars — My 

Pay and subsistence from March V} to Sep', i!' — 
Receive of M": Knowles for D": Spafford 237 dollars — 

12. Dined at Genl M^ Dougalls — A shower at evening 

attended with thunder & Lightning. — 

13. Wrote home and to Esq^ Batchelder — N? 30 p": Post : 

fair but windy — 

14. This day, fair & cool — 

15. This day Col? Freeman & Major Osgood arrived at 

camp ; a committee from the court — 

16. The committee opened their commission to the Officers 

of the Line — • They made choice of Majors Hull & 
Furnald to join a committee to be appointed from 
court to make a settlement of arrears due to the 
Army. — 
Sunday 17. No service to-day, the men all at exercise — 
Gen'. Orders of this day — 
" The commander in chief has now the pleasure to con- 
gratulate the Army on the Compleat & full success 
of Major Genl Sullivan, and the Troops under his 
Command, against the Senecas & other Tribes of the 
six Nations — as a just and necessary punishment, — 
for their wanton depredations, unparalleled & innum- 
erable cruelties, their deafness to all remonstrances 
& intreaty, their perseverance in the most horrid 
acts of barbarism — Forty of their Towns have been 
reduced to ashes — some of them large & commodious 
— That of Chenisse alone containing 128 Houses — 
Their crops of Corn have been entirely destroyed, 
which, by estimation, it is said, would have produced 
160,000 bushells, besides a large quantity of Vegitable 
of various kinds — their whole country was overrun & 
laid waste — & they themselves compelled to place 
their own security in a precipitate flight to the British 
fortress at Niagara — And the whole of this has been 
done with the loss of less than 40 men on our part, 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 21 5 

including the killed, wounded & captured, & those 
who have died natural deaths.— 

The Troops employed in that expedition, both Offi- 
cers & men, thro', the whole of it & in the actions 
they had with the Enemy, manifested a patience, 
perseverance & valour, that do them the highest 
honor. 

In the course of it, when there still remained a large 
extent of the Enemys country to be penetrated, it be- 
came necessary to lessen the Issues of provisions to 
half the usual alowance. In this the Troops acqui- 
esced with most general & cheerful concurrence, 
being fully determined to surmount every obstacle & 
to prosecute the enterprise to a compleat & success- 
ful issue. 

Major Genl Sullivan, for his great perseverance, & ac- 
tivity, for his order of March, & Attack, & the whole 
of his dispositions. The Brigadiers & officers of all 
ranks & the whole of the Soldiery engaged in the ex- 
pedition, merit the Commander in chiefs warmest 
Acknowledgment for their important Services upon 
this occasion 

A rough calculation of the Arrears due to the Officers 
of 15 Battallions on supposition their cops were fully 
as at first — The whole amount of one years 
pay is 240660 multiplied by 
3 is 3 



721,980 for the three years 
20 — depreciation 



14439600 due as the medium now is — 
D": Wingate & Cap'. Francis came to camp — Receive 
Letter from Oct": 2^ & from Cousin Phebe — from 
Rev4 Cutler dated Sep' 20 — 
19. Extract from Genl Orders. 

The Commander in chief is happy in the Opportunity 
of congratulating the Army on our further success — 
By advice just receive ; 



2l6 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Col"? Broadhead ^ with the continental Troops under his 
command, and a body of Maletia & Volunteers, has 
penetrated about i8o miles into the Indian country 
laying on the Aleghana River, burnt ten of the Mu- 
ney & Seneca Towns in that quarter, containing 165 
houses — destroyed all their fields of Corn, computed 
to comprehend 500 acres ; besides large quantities of 
Vegitables, oblidging the Savages to flee before him 
with the greatest precipitation, and to leave behind 
them many skins & other articles of Value. 

The only opposition the Savages ventured to give our 
Troops on the occasion was near Cusuking, about 40 
of their warriors, on their way to commit barbarities 
on our frontiers were met here by Leu'. Hardin of the 
8* Pensilvania Reg', at the head of our advanced 
partys, composed of 23 men of which 8 were of our 
Friends the Delaware Nation, who immediately 
attacked the Savages & put them to the rout, with 
the loss of five killed on the spot & of all their 
Canoes, Blankets, shirts and provisions, of which, as 
is usual for them when going into action, they had 
divested themselves, & also of several arms ; two of 
our men & one of our Delaware Friends were very 
slightly wounded in the Action ; which was the only 
damage we sustained in the whole enterprize. 

The activity, perseverance & firmness which marked the 
conduct of Col? Broadhead & that of all the Officers of 
every description in the Expedition do them the highest 
honor, & their services justly intitle them to the thanks, 
& to this testimonial of the Genl^ acknowledgments. 

20. Wrote home N? 31, & to Rev? Cutler — sent portrait 

p>: M-: Wallis— 

21. Dined at headquarters — Just at Major Lyman come 

over from Genl Heath with the important intelligence 
of the evacuation of Stony 8c Verplank's Points, 
which took place about midday. 

1 David Brodhead, colonel 8th Pennsylvania, was distinguished in 
several campaigns against the Indians. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 217 

22. Took a cathartick infusion of Cena, manna &c very 

weak and relaxed — 

23. Went over the river obtain order for a horse at 

Dan bury — 
Sunday 24. Raind A. M. No service — very unwell — 

25. A report that Count d, Estaing is in Cheasapeek bay — 

26. This day I receiv-J of Cap* Porter 121 doll! the amount 

of a horse ration account left with O. M. Francis. — 

27. This day I left West Point having obtained leave of ab- 

sence for the recovery of my health — reached Salem 
at Night 

28. Lodged at Major Bushes last Night, came thro Dan- 

bury. Reached Reading.^ — 

29. Lay by at Genl Parsens's extremely fatigued — 

30. M": Guild came on, passed to Fairfield — P. M. I rode to 

Rev4 Tenants. 
Sunday 31. Delivered a Ser : Job 27, 5, 6. went to Fair- 
field between meetings — after Service M*: Guild & I 
proceed to Stratford. 
November i. Arriv^ at N. Haven to dine — put up at 
D': Stiles's ^ passed an agreeable afternoon & even- 
ing.— 

2. We proceed to Weathersfield. 

3. Being too much fatigued to go on, M": Guild left & 

went on — Rev4 Marshs lecture Rev4 Brinsmaid of 
Washington preached, very cold — 

4. This afternoon I proceed with Rev^ Perry to his house 

— more comfortable 

5. Reach'! Springfield at 3 oClock, dined at D-; Williams 

put up at Rev? Brecks — 

6. Arrived at Brother Cutlers at dark — very tired. 
Sunday 7. Preached for Rev? Ward P. M. Job 27, 5, 6. 
8. Proceeded to Rev4 Whitneys '^ — Northboro — 

1 Ezra Stiles, D. D., LL. D., one of the purest and most gifted men of 
his time. He was twice president of Yale and a warm friend of Dr. 
Franklin. He was intimate with our chaplain. 

2 Rev. Peter Whitney, minister at Northborough and author of a 
history of Worcester County. 



2l8 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

9. Reached Rev^ Parsons's in company with Mes! Gannett 
& Guild &c 

10. This morning we moved on early to Salem, attended 
the ordination of M": Prime. — Arrived home about 
Sunset after 7 months & three days absence — found 
my-dear Family in health — and thro the great good- 
ness of God my own is much better than when I left 
camp — may my Gratitude ever rise in proportion to 
favors receiv? . 

[The above diary fills one note-book. The next note-book 
begins at August i, 1780, with the life in camp at West Point. 
Obviously an intervening book has been lost.] 

1780 
August I. Yesterday the N. York, 3": & 4!!] Mass'i? Brigades 
left the Point — & marched, some to the Continental 
Village, others to Peeks Kill — ^the baggage went 
down by Water — Tis a late day to take the iield but 
the activity, may make up for the shortness of the 
Campaign — 

The other two Mass'i? & Connecticut moved down the 
evening before — ■ His Excellency is now at Genl 
Howe's, the main Army are crossing at King's ferry 
— things at present wear the appearance of a vigorous 
push, while the British fleet & army are absent ^ — 

Col? Malcom with some York Meletia came on the 
Point — This morning a fellow was executed as a 
Spy — he was taken last Saturday, tried on Sabbath 
day — & executed this morning. — 

2. The baggage ordered back — one tent retained for 

twelve men — 

3. The British fleet & army having returned to York, the 

object of the light & vigorous move ceased — viz the 
calling their attention from our Allies — the Army 
directed in Genl orders to recal their baggage, & re- 

^ Clinton projected an expedition to Rhode Island, but proceeded no 
farther than Huntington Bay, Long Island. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 219 

cross the river in order to prosecute the original plan 
of the campaign — the army to move over the river in 
Geographical order to begin early to-morrow morn- 
ing — The Army once more makes a respectable 
appearance. 

4. This morning the light Infantry began to cross at 

four °Clock — the Pensilvania line followed. 

5. The Army continues to pass the river — last evening I 

receiv? Letters from home & Rev^ Cutler by 
Cap* Story — this day I went up to the point — 
extreme hot — 
Sunday 6. This day I passed at West Point — extreme hot 
— the heat of yesterday & this day appears as intense 
as I ever knew it to be — 

7. This day I spent in the regions of hospitality, at 

Mr Mandeville's — the heat a little abated a gentle brieze. 

8. This morning I left the Friendly dwelling — to rejoin 

the Army, ^ which found encamped in a line at Tap- 
pond — having passed Kings ferry, thro Haverstraw & 
Clarkstown, a fine country well settled — this is 
eighteen miles from the ferry — the people appear to 
be home bred quite unacquainted with mankind and 
perfectly astonished at the magnitude of the army, 
tho' they passed in two or three collumns — The 
Marquis le F'yatte ^ joined from Rhode Island, takes 
command of the light Infantry. — 

9. This morning came on fine showers attended with 

lightning, from daylight repeated till noon. 
10. I rode down to Dobbs's ferry. On the way there is a 

^ The line of march was down the west bank of the Hudson toward 
New Jersey. 

2 Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, 
was the romantic hero, the chivalric knight of the Revolution. Our peo- 
ple dearly loved him. Of the highest lineage, with an immense estate, 
he left his aristocratic bride and his position in the army to volunteer 
under Washington. Brave, devoted, generous — supplying needy troops 
out of his pocket — he deserved the gratitude which a nation eagerly 
gave him. 



220 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

cavity in the side of a rocky mountain— it appears to 
be artificial, dug for some kind of mineral — Tis about 
five feet square and near a hundred feet deep — The 
country is a fertile soil, but the inhabitants are Dutch, 
a great vapour arises from this ground which makes 
it cool towards morning, but tis hot at midday — the 
land of a red colour — 

Sunday 13. The shiping fired a few guns at men on the 
shore against us — a party ordered on fatigue under 
Col? Goverung [indistincf] at Dobbs's ferry — the ex- 
tremity of the heat prevented attending worship at 
midday and miletary exercise at Night — 

18. The weather has been extreme hot near three weeks. 

Sunday 20. This day at 1 1 ^Clock we attended divine Ser- 
vice the fourth Brigade united with us. I Saml 2, 3. 
much cooler than it has been. 

21. The provisions of the meat kind fails — I rode out to see 

Friend Baldwin, & obtained a Dutch dinner of Spieks 
& apples, boiled — cool & pleasant — 

22. No meat to-day again, not a pound for our Brigade. 

Orders this Evening to march to-morrow — the front 
to begin at 7 °Clock. 

23. The army moved off the ground about 9 °Clock — the 

dust & heat induced me to leave them at the Church, 
& go about 2 miles up the road and tarry with Major 
Bass — 

24. I spent the day with him, we go fishing in Hackinsack 

Creek — his Landlord shot a pike according to their 
custom in this country — very warm. 

25. This morning I set for camp — joined about twelve 

oClock at the English Neighborhood (not because 
there are English here) about ten Miles South of our 
last encamping ground, in the County of Bergen ^ — I 
found the Army in a sad state as to provision — having 
drawn none the day they march'^ nor the next till 

1 Bergen is the border county of New Jersey, lying behind the pali- 
sades. The commissariat was difficult with New York City and the river 
in the hands of the enemy. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 221 

night & then but a trifle, & this day at night a little 
more — prospects very gloomy on that account — The 
Light Infantry, & front line of the right wing, are 
down near Powles hook ^ — some firing that way — 

26. This day I rode to river opposite Spikering-devil 
Creek & to fort Lee — saw the most of York Island, 
the Sound, long & Straten Islands &c — Two hundred 
loads of forage brought up, collected by the Enemy 
— several stacks burnt that could not be got away — 
Genl Green Commanded the party below — a Soldier 
of the Pensilvania line having ravished a farmers 
Daughter, being found guilty of merauding inhabi- 
tants, was tried found guilty & executed immediately 
— others who had aid in otherwise abusing the people 
were flogged — 

Sunday 27. Divine Service at ii °Clock Rom. 13, 9, 10 the 
^rd §j ^th Brigades present — warm. Some firing this 
morning, it appeared to be at Dobbs's ferry, another 
duel one mortally wounded — 

29. M": Evans & I rode to Hackensack a beautiful Village 
on a small river, where I found Mr. Romaine an 
agreeable clergyman who, tho Dutch, entertained us 
very hospitably — very warm — extreme dry — ■ 
September i. A heavy firing yesterday and some this day 
— the Occasion not known. 
2. Genl Orders to march to-morrow morning at eight 
°Clock — this has been a lowry day, several small 
showers — it looks likely to continue — 

Sunday 3. Rainy intervals all last Night & this morning 
— orders not to march till further orders — the rain 
come on heavy, wind violent at S. E. about ten A. M. 
continued till two P. M. — cleared off very moderate 
and pleasant — M": Barlow"^ came to see me — he 

1 Now Jersey City. 

2 Joel Barlow, poet and author, born at Redding, Conn., graduated at 
Yale, 1778, was a chaplain in the army. The epic " Columbiad " did not 
succeed, as epics seldom have. But he was a good scholar, pure and 
patriotic, deserving well of posterity. 



222 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

arrived in camp last Evening to take the Chaplaincy 
of the 4"} Brigade. 

4. This day the army retired by the right, the baggage in 

front, over the new Bridge — left the ground at Tean 
Neck about 9 °Clock, & encamped about two & half 
Miles West of the new Bridge. No meat for the 
Brigade this day — at Steenropia. — 

5. Cold to-day for the season — News of Genl Gates de- 

feat before Cornwallis in South Carolina — No provi- 
sion of meat to-day — 

6. A small supply of beef & mutton for the Brigade — cool 

for the Season — a heavy shower last Night — 
9. Last night departed this life of a putrid fever, Brigadier 
Genl Poor, ^ whose uniform life — agreeable deport- 
ment — intrepid & determined spirit united to a 
placid, generous, disposition rendered him at once & 
equally serviceable to the public and agreeable to his 
Friends & acquaintance — his death is therefore very 
greatly lamented by them all — & perhaps no Officer 
of his rank in the army would receive of more general 
Tribute than he. 
Sunday 10. Divine Service at 10 °Clock — Jer: 2, 19— 
after service I went to the 4* Brigade & heard M'; 
Barlow preach for the first time to them, on the omni- 
presence of God — a very sensible. Judicious Sermon 
— Acts 17, 28. — 
This afternoon were interred the remains of Genl Poor 
— the procession began about a Mile from Hacken- 
sack Churchyard — The Brigade of Light Infantry he 
commanded — march in front with Arms reverst — 
Lees corps of Light horse followed them — a band of 
musick next — M': Evans & I preceeded the herse — 
Brigadier Genl Bearers — the Officers of the N. Hamp- 
shire Brigade followed — His Excellency, the Major 
Genii succeeded — the most of the Officers of the 

1 Drake gives the cause of death, "killed in a duel with a French 
Officer, near Hackensack, N. J., Sept. 8, 1780." A wasteful sacrifice of 
an excellent life. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 223 

Army formed a very long procession — M": Evans de- 
livered an Oration at the grave suitable to the solemn 
occasion — 

11. Last Night some Waggoners were attempt to meraude 

a hog of an inhabitant— he, defending, his property 
shot the Soldier dead on the spot — 

12. This Afternoon was executed at 4 oClock, immediately 

after sentence — David Hall of the Pensilvania line— 
for robing an Inhabitant — he with three others 
blacked themselves & entered the House in the 
Night, bound the men & made the Women show 
them where the m.ost valuable Articles were — they 
made off with their booty — but the Neighbours ral- 
lied, pursued & caught this man — & upon conviction 
was sentenced to suffer death— the Adj'. Genl sent a 
request to me to attend, which I did — found the poor 
unhappy man somewhat affected with his case, but 
did not seem to be appear to be acquainted with 
Religion — 

A shower attended with thunder. 

As the poor Fellow was going to the place of Execu- 
tion a number of their women came thro' the Provost 
to bid him farewell — one seizing him with both her 
hands, says — "great luck to you David." — 

Anecdote — The Troops advanced near Powlers hook, 
were ordered to march by the Soldier who was taken 
from the ranks & executed on the 26''^ August for 
merauding the Inhabitants — as they passed — one of 
comerades slaped him on the thigh & says " well Jack 
you are the best off of any of us — it wont come to 
your turn to be hanged again this ten years." ^ 
13. This morning the whole Army turned out to be re- 
viewed by a number of Indians Some Chiefs, a Com.- 
mittee from several Tribes in Canada — who were sent 
to Rhode Island to obtain the certainty of a French 

1 Evidently men who had been on very short rations about a month 
had a fellow-feeling for a marauder. They would bestow on him the 
best wit they had. 



224 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Fleet, which the Briton endeavored to keep a secret 
from them. 
14. This day I obtain more particular Accounts of the 
Southern affair than before — The British were 
oblidged to stretch themselves in single file at five 
feet distance in order occupy the ground opposite to 
our Maletia, who immediately & run precipetately 
casting away their guns as usual, this enabled the 
Enemy to consolidate & turn the left flank of our 
right wing, regular Troops, the conflict became 
severe & was tried at the point of the Bayonet fifteen 
minutes — " when superior bravery overpowered by 
superior numbers our troops were oblidged to file off 
which they did in good order." the Enemy's Light 
horse pursued, about 400 — which were almost entirely 
cut off — tis said only two or three escaped — The 
Baron de Kalb ^ is dead of his wounds — Governor 
Caswell of N. Carolina has erected a Camp at the 
distance of about forty Miles from the Action, has 
collected about 700 of our Regulars to it — in his letter 
to Congress he makes no mention of Gates — we lost 
all our heavy baggage & Artillery — No provision 
to-day. 

Anecdote. An Officer observed that " the Reason why 
Genl Gates was so fond of Maletia was because he 
knew that Regular Troops would lead him into fire 
but there was no danger of the Maletia doing it." 
Sunday 17. This morning his Excellency the Marquis le 
Fayette & Genl Knox set out for Hartford to confer 
with the Count de Rochambeau ^ &c — 

Divine Service at 1 1 "Clock, M": Baldwin preached for 
me, from Eccl : 12, 13, an excellent Sermon — at 5 

1 John Baron De Kalb came over in the vessel with Lafayette. He had 
been a brigadier-general in the French army and was made major-general 
in ours. 

2 Jean Baptiste Donatien Vimeur, Count de Rochambeau, marshal of 
France. As a lieutenant-general with a corps of 6000 men he landed at 
Rhode Island. The French cooperation was very effective at Yorktown. 



DIARY OF ENDS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 22$ 

P. M. I returned the service by preaching to their 
Brigade Heb 13, 12, 13. 

18. Genl Green compliments his Excellency in Orders — by 

calling on the Army to be very alert lest the enemy 
should take advantage of the Commander in chiefs 
absence — 

19. Orders to be ready for marching — the unpromising 

weather prevents it to-day — 

20. This day the army moved off the ground about 

ten °Clock — the baggage preceeded — encamped on 
the old ground at Orange Tow^n — 

22. This morning a firing began at day — occasioned by a 
Ship & Gaily laying Haverstraw Bay — our people 
came on Tailors point with two & a Howitzer with 
which they played upon them & caused them to 
retire. 

Sunday 24. At 10 A. M. attended divine Service Heb 3, 
12, 13, heard M': Barlow at y^ past eleven upon wor- 
shiping God in Spirit. 

25. The whole Army paraded at ten °Clock in two lines 

and performed the manoeuvre of changing the front — 

26. Last night at 12 °Clock Orders came to us to be ready 

to march at six in the morning — Genl Wayne 
marched his Brigade about one — The occasion of this 
sudden move was the News of a British Officer, said 
an Adjl Genl , being taken on his way from West 
Point to a Ship below Chroton by three Inhabitants 
who discovered plans of the works & the state of the 
Garrison about him — & other papers which detected 
the Treasonable designs of Genl Arnold commander 
of that department, it seems the Post was to be given 
up to the Enemy this very night — as soon as he heard 
of the discovery he took to his Barge & was rowed 
on board the Ship below King's ferry — 
Extract from Gen' Orders — 26 ^ 

1 Accounts of the treason of Arnold and of the capture of Andr^ may- 
be found in Bancroft, V. 428, and Winsor, America, VI. 447. Seldom 
has any verdict of the time been more fully confirmed by history 



226 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

" Treason of the blackest dye was yesterday discovered 
— Genl Arnold who commanded at West Point lost 
to every Sentiment of honor, of public & private obli- 
gations, was about to deliver up that important post 
into the hands of the enemy. Such an Event must 
have given the American Cause a deadly wound if 
not a fatal Stab — happily, the treason has been timely 
discovered to prevent the fatal misfortune — the prov- 
idential train of circumstances which led to it, affords 
the most convincing proof that the liberties of Amer- 
ica is the Object of divine protection — At the same 
time the Treason is to be regretted, the Genl cannot 
help congratulating the Army on the discovery. 

Our Enemies dispair of carrying their point by force, 
are practicing every base act to effect by bribery & 
corruption what they cannot accomplish in a manly 
way. Great honor is due to the American Army that 
this is the first instance of treason of the kind, where 
many were to be expected from the nature of the dis- 
pute — and nothing is so bright an Orniment in the 
character of the American Soldier as their having 
been proof against all the Arts of an insidious 
Enemy — 

Arnold has made his escape to the Enemy, but M": 
Andrew the Adjutant Genl of the British Army, who 
came out as a Spy to negotiate the Business, is our 
prisoner — His Excellency the Commander in Chief 
has arrived at West Point from Hartford, & is no 



than in the case of Benedict Arnold. The only redeeming feature of his 
career was his bravery and splendid gallantry under fire. His treason 
was not only devilish, it was mean and sordid. He deliberately sold him- 
self and with himself the opportunity which the generous confidence of 
Washington had given him. September 25th was to have been the day 
for the culmination of the plot between Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton, 
the details of which had been arranged by Andre. Major Andrd had 
landed from the British vessel Vulture, had held his interview with 
Arnold, had been captured and now the chief conspirator had escaped to 
the vessel. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 22/ 

doubt taking the proper measures to unravel fully so 
hellish a plot." — 

27. Joseph Smith ^ of Haverstraw confederate with Arnold, 

was taken at Fish Kill. — 

28. This Evening his Excellency returned to Camp to the 

great Joy of the Army after twelve days absence, a 
longer term than he has been except in the winter 
since he took the important command — M": Andr6 the 
British Adj* Gen'. & M": Smith were brought down 
under a proper guard. 

29. A board of Genl Officers ^ set on the trial of Andre, 

Smith's refered to Court Martial. 

30. M": Andre found guilty, — to suffer as a Spy — 
Sunday October i. Divine Service at Ten Ps : 122, 6, 7, 8, 

heard M": Barlow Haggai 2, 9. The Execution of 
Major Andre appointed at 5 °Clock P. M. one Con- 
necticut to attend — a little before the time a flag ar- 
rived from Clinton desiring the execution to be 
postponed till he could send another with some pro- 
posals for saving him — the execution deffered for the 
present. 
2. At twelve °Clock this day was Executed Major 
Andre ^ — He received his fate with greater apparent 

^Joshua Hett Smith brought off Andre from the Vulture in a boat. A 
court could not decide whether he was a dupe or a willing knave. 

2 Greene was president, St. Clair, Lafayette of the French army, 
Steuben from the staff of Frederic II., Parsons, Clinton, Glover, Knox, 
Huntington, all sat on the board. If there was knowledge or wisdom in 
the American army, it was represented on that court and their decision 
was unanimous. Be it remembered, this was no ordinary treason in con- 
ception or execution. The coveted plunder was the citadel of American 
independence and Major Andre was adjutant-general of the British army. 
And yet the pity of it was beyond reason. A refugee and volunteer, the 
Chevalier de Pontgibaud, testifies in his memoirs that he " can certify that 
"when they came out of the Court-martial the faces of all our generals 
"showed marks of the most profound grief; the Marquis de Lafayette 
"had tears in his eyes." 

3 The muse of history was not so clear-sighted in Andre's case as in 
Arnold's. (See Winsor, America, VI. 467.) Sentiment did befog 



228 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

fortitude than others saw it — he appeared a most 
Genteel young fellow — handsomely drest in his regi- 
mentals — -when he came to the Gallows, he said he 
well knew his fate but was disappointed in the mode 
— He ascended the waggon cheerfully fixed the halter 
round his own neck &. bound his Eyes — said, smiling, 
a few moments would settle the whole — was asked if 
he had anything to offer — lifting up the handkerchief 
that covered his Eyes, said. Gentlemen, you will all 
bear witness that I met my fate like a brave man. 
Behold the end of humane greatness ! a young fellow 
cut off in the midst of the highest prospects, by the 
hand of a common hangman- — • 

3. A cool N. E. Storm 

4. Lowry, unpleasant weather for camp — 

5. The Storm renewed — and more stevere than the 3^ — 

6. Fair & pleasant- — Orders for marching to-morrow. — 

7. The Army marched this mornmg at 9 °Clock — the 

baggage in front — the road very bad — waggons often 
hindered — I went forward to Paramus about a mile 
past the Church — dined at a Dutch Justices on 
Peaches & milk^it began to rain about three P. M. 
the wind rise N. E. which greatly increase the diffi- 
culty of passing — our Brigade baggage arrived a little 



some historians and even military critics until they maintained that 
Washington should not have treated Andrd as a spy, and they blamed 
him for injustice. Cooler judgment has gradually convinced to the con- 
trary both English and American writers. The technical claim that 
Andr^ was protected by a flag is now hardly maintained by any sensible 
advocate. Clinton asserted that Arnold's pass and flag should cover and 
relieve Andre. Washington replied that flags must be used in good faith 
to justify the buntmg or bearer, and that concealment of dress and 
papers was the action of a spy. Andrd has been overrated by his admir- 
ers. His pluck and graceful manners, his urbanity and coolness did not 
change his essential nature, which was shallow. He did not seem to 
know just what he was about. He disobeyed instructions in several im- 
portant particulars. The grace of chivalry is beautiful, but without 
honor there can be no grace. The spy may be and sometimes has been 
the greatest hero of them all. But the spy must hang. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 229 

before Sunset, the storm encreasing — The whole Park 
Artillery being in front of our collumn detained them 
till after ten °Clock at Night — when the Troops 
arrived in fine Spirits, it greatly revived mine which 
had been depressed with concern for them — many 
Waggons were left behind — 

Sunday 8. This morning opens fair and pleasant — but the 
scene of yesterday determines we could have no Service. 

9. This morning the Army marched at 9 ^Clock, baggage 
in front, to Totawaw, six miles — the march performed 
with ease, without any difficulty. I viewed the 
Pesaiack falls — which are very curious — the water 
runs off into a large crevise in the rocks & falls from 
fifty to seventy feet — & throws up a great Spray thro 
which at ten A. M. we discovered a rainbow in com- 
pleat circle — there are two clefts — one from one to 
six feet in width — the other from three Inches to a 
foot, each of them 70 or 80 feet deep — the sides per- 
fectly parrallel & smooth — 

II. 1 went to see the person at Totowa Bridge, whose head 
is matter of great Speculation & observation — he lays 
in a Cradle — is about five long — has no use of any 
limb except one hand, the other is drawn in — from 
the chin to the top of his head is 14 Inches — round 
his over the forehead is 31;^ Inches — he speaks with 
some little difficulty, but appears to have common 
understanding — is 26 years old — was born a proper 
child & grew some years — but the head encreased so 
much faster than any other part as reach its present 
size — he is free from pain— & seems not unacquainted 
with enjoyments of animal & rational life. — 

Sunday 15. M": Barlow & I exchanged Services — Attended 
theirs at 11 °Clock — Is: 57, 21 — ours at 3 P. M. — 
when M": Barlow delivered an excellent discourse 
upon the Omnipresence of God — Acts 17, 28.— He 
occupys all Space — Ergo — It may with more pro- 
priety be said that all things exist in God than he in 
them. — 



230 RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1 6. Dined at Headquarters — 

17. Genl Paterson celebrated the ever memorable 17 

Ocf: 1777, by a large & generous entertainment for 
all his Officers — where mirth & festivity crowned the 
day. Capt Greenleaf resigned & left Camp. 

18. M": Wescot arrived with Letters. 

19. News of the Capture of 51 sail of East & West India- 

man — in the Channel by the combined fleet. 
Sunday 22. Service at 3 P. M. Rom. 14, 17, fair & pleasant. 
23. Heard M': Smith make his defence — 

25. I left with Lieu^. Allen Pay M — Col? Marshalls Regi- 

ment, two forage accounts certified by Col? Biddle, ^ 
one of 522 the other 650 doU^ , with an order to draw 
the money. 

26. I put into Cap! Porter's hand, Col? Tuppers Regiment, 

a warrant on the P. M. G. for 6325 doll^ received of 
him 200 dolh to be paid to Lieut Benj" Shaw — 

At 10 °Clock his Excellency, the Minister of France 
and a large retinue reviewed the Army which made a 
respectable appearance. 

Nev/s from the Southv/ard by letter to Genl Washing- 
ton, that the back Counties of N. & S. Carolina 
turned out spiritedly and charged on a body of the 
Enemys Levies in the former — killed 135 besides 
wounded, took 813 — 1500 stand of arms — also the 
Georgia Maletia retook Augusta, thinly garrisoned, 
with a large quantity of stores &c. 

27. The Sun eclipsed beginning [J- J^- j^j- greatest obscura- 

tion ^2] ^,' sf, end at ^; 27; fi". Duration 2, 41, 21. — 
tho the Sun was eclipsed more than 11 digits the 
darkness was not great — it being cloudy, perhaps 
light reflected from the clouds round the horizon. — 

28. Rained most of the day — a change of weather follows an 

eclipse of the Sun ! warm for the season. 
Sunday 29. Divine Service at 3 P. M. Jn? 7, 46. fair & 
pleasant. 

1 Clement Biddle of Philadelphia, colonel in the army, was an efficient 
officer in the commissary and quartermaster's departments. 



DIARY OF ENOS HITCHCOCK, D. D. 23 1 

30. This morning left camp in company with M-: Lockwood 

— pass"? Paramus — 7 miles — to Cakaat io>^ miles, 
dined. go on to Kings ferry io>^ Miles — pass^ it 
about sun down put up at Continental Village 8 miles 
for fear of the Cow Boys who have infested Crumb- 
pond of late — 

31. We pass the back way by Col-; Drakes to Salem 22 

Miles — dined at Major Brushes — it began to rain hard 
at 3 °Clock & detained us. 
November i. This morning presents us with a severe snow 
storm which forbids our going on — were invited to 
dine at Esq": Hunts — some appearance of an abate- 
ment of the storm enduced us to set forward in the 
afternoon — but it encreased much as we were passing 
Ridgbury which made it difficult to move ahead- 
after much struggling with snow, wet & cold we 
reached Danbury near Sunset — 11 Miles — put up at 
Major Stars. 

2. Major Star rode in his Sleigh this morning — at 1 1 "Clock 

we move on to Newton 10 Miles — Snow considerable 
depth on the hills — dined at Baldwins — go on to the 
new Bridge 4 miles— to Derby Hills 8 Miles— put up 
at M": Thomlinsons — 

3. Pass^i thro Derby to N. Haven 16 Miles— spent the af- 

ternoon & evening in an agreeable circle at the presi- 
dents. ^ 

4. This day brought us on to Weathersfield. 

Sunday 5. This morning we were alarmed about 5 by the 
appearance of fire below stairs — turned out as soon as 
possible — found the setting room all in a blaze — with 
the vigorous application of water it was extinguished, 
having burnt thro an old Mantle piece & consumed 
the winscut over the fire place — it destroyed M": 
Mashes & my hats at the farthest side of the room — 
attended Worship— pr"? John 7, 26, Job 27, 6. 

^ At President Stiles's. 



OW^HU^ 



LIST OF PROVIDENCE MILITIA -MEN, 1687. 

The two documents following — a letter from William Hop- 
kins, of Providence, to Fitz-John Winthrop, of New London, 
dated April 15, 1687, and a list of soldiers at Providence, pre- 
pared by Hopkins and referred to in his letter — are printed 
from originals recently sent to the chairman of the Committee 
of Publication, together with several other documents, by 
Mr. Robert C. Winthrop, Jr., of Boston, with intention that 
they should be handed over to the Historical Society or the 
University. They have been presented to the former. The 
originals were found among the Winthrop Papers. John 
Winthrop the third (1639-1707), com.monly called Fitz-John, 
and subsequently governor of Connecticut, was in 1687 a 
member of Governor Andros's Council. As he was experi- 
enced and promment in military affairs (he had served in 
the Civil War in England), Andros had on January 7, 1687, 
made him colonel of the militia of Rhode Island and captain 
of the company in Providence. (See his commission in 
Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 6th series. III. 477.) This early militia 
list, drawn up for his inspection by Captain William Hopkins, 
may be compared with the list of persons subject to the 
poll-tax, drawn up in August, 1688, and printed by Mr. Ed- 
ward Field in his Tax Lists of tJie Tozvn of Provide 7ice during 
the Adininistratio7i of Sir Edviund Andros and Ids Council, 
pp. 37-40. The names are nearly the same. 

[Endorsed : "A list of the Souldiers 
at Providence. 
Dated April I5t'> 1687?^ 

" for the hand of 

Collonel John fits Winthrop 
Lieuing at new Lundun — 
These with 
kare 



Ja'08 



C 15 80 



oV^^<^,VK^^ .^^ -^. 













A^ 



^l-^- 



0" A 



o 



.0' 



%, 












4 o^ 



> - ^ 



.•■ ,/\ ''^^s y\ 



-7 .f 



'^O 



■0' > 



%. 



^"^ ,. . - o , ^^J. 



^-^■>r 



'o V 



.-Jv 



•; o 















5^ ' 






o V 



mm 












-J."'' .< 



1^ . « • - "^ 



c, or- 



»^ 








■ •'•n. 


0^ 


#'■' 




^^ 


1 






V ' 






\ ' 






V 








'f^ , . * A, 






-V 



^^•v. 















V 



vV-=^. 






s^-, 















- \x^f; 



.O- V *-'-•■ A^"^ 



0' 

O. * , . o ' ^0 



^. 



■■•^^''-'^\ ^^^ ■0%:- \/ ■^'^^''■' ^ 



V, 



>/ ^^^ -^. 












•' ,»* 



C" * 









o V 



-^^ 



^:^a' 



•n^o^ 



x^-^^ 






\ V,./'^ixS&^ 



■ .^^ 



^ . 




^v.-s-> :a\K/A 






^. 






.0 



0* 



, ^ ''Co. * V , 



' » 


o 


-o. 


' 




■ /^ ' 


^o 


V^ 



,v 






»'^ 






-;^' 





















C /,:/K>-^:v, 



. ^ .c^ 



^^-n^. '/^ 



.4 o^ 






\- 






'^^'^A> ^-. A<^ '' 



^ .^^>*:% ''^ 



-p 






"i' 


'■y '■' ■• 




•>* 






o 


V 




^'' 


-"t. '■ 






<^ 


' "-^it. - 




'^> 


** 



aV . 



^';^ife 







N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 46962 



,'^ 



^^ 



:^*> 
.^^' 






<^ 






,v. 



o V 

.0^ 



